Kentucky’s education commissioner is out. A JCPS audit is looming. What it means for schools

An abrupt shakeup at the Kentucky Education Department could have far-reaching impact on the future of the state’s public schools.

So, what’s happened so far?

After criticism from the governor and pressure from the state education board, Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt resigned Tuesday. An interim leader is already in place.

That’s on top of seven new members appointed Monday to the state Board of Education — making the board entirely handpicked by Gov. Matt Bevin.

Here’s everything you need to know and how it affects your child.

Why it matters

The shakeup at the state level could have far-reaching implications for all Kentucky schools.

With the entirety of the board being handpicked by Bevin, it could mean more conservative approaches to public education or even a renewal of charter school debates and how they relate to the state’s public education system.

Why was Stephen Pruitt let go?

After a closed-door meeting of the new Board of Education, Pruitt resigned. When accepting his resignation, the board stated publicly it had no cause to fire him.

But on Tuesday, Bevin was critical of how Kentucky students have fared during Pruitt’s tenure, citing concerns about a lack of improvement in closing the achievement gap.

The board’s new chairman, Milton Seymore, said Pruitt was not pushed out, but the board was seeking a new direction.

Seymore indicated Tuesday that part of that new direction involves addressing “failing” urban schools.

Pruitt, however, was fired without “cause” according to the board.

Who is replacing Stephen Pruitt?

Wayne Lewis, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, was named interim education commissioner and will receive a $150,000 annual salary. Lewis is a proponent of charter schools and has served as a non-voting adviser to the state education board for the last year.

Lewis said he has asked for leave from the university and will also step down from his position as policy adviser in the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

More on Lewis: Who is interim Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis?

“I am incredibly honored that the Kentucky Board of Education has decided to place the trust in me that they have,” Lewis told reporters after the announcement. “I intend to hit the ground running.”

What does a new commissioner mean for my child?

Well, several things.

Instead of Pruitt, Lewis will be in charge of making a recommendation to the board about what should happen with JCPS once the results of a forthcoming state audit are released. One option he may consider recommending: a state takeover of the urban district.

He’s also sympathetic to the idea of charter schools.

Lewis said he plans to have conversations about the future of charter schools in Kentucky, which is unclear since the state legislature did not approve funding for charter schools in the 2018-20 budget.

“It’s no secret that I have been a proponent of high-quality charter schools as a solution that should be part of our toolbox for improving performance of kids,” Lewis said.

What is the Kentucky State Board of Education?

The State Board of Education and its 12 members — 11 with voting powers and one non-voting member — have been entirely handpicked by Bevin.

The agency provides resources and guidance to all of the commonwealth’s schools and makes sure they implement K-12 requirements and policy across the state’s 173 school districts and the Kentucky Department of Education.

Most elements of a child’s education — including high school graduation requirements, class requirements, curriculum structure and even state competency testing — all fall under the board’s jurisdiction.

This is what it can do to JCPS

The board can decide whether the state should take over Jefferson County Public Schools based on a recommendation that comes out of an ongoing audit, which was launched in February of 2017.

A takeover could happen if the audit finds the district has shown “a pattern of a significant lack of effectiveness and efficiency in the governance or administration of the school district” — and determines JCPS can’t fix its problems on its own.

Pruitt said Monday night that the audit was almost ready for release.

Watch this helpful video: Learn about charter schools in Kentucky

If the audit’s recommendation is state assistance, JCPS would retain control of its finances, personnel, operations and other responsibilities currently handled by the superintendent and the school board.

But the district, which is one of the 30 largest in the nation, would have to work side-by-side with state officials to fix issues uncovered by the audit.

Before state officials could start changing elements of JCPS, the state Board of Education would vote whether to approve the recommended takeover. Under Kentucky law, JCPS is entitled to a hearing in front of the 11-member board ahead of that vote.

Here are the key people involved

On Monday, less than 48 hours after the Kentucky General Assembly ended, Bevin appointed seven new people to the State Board of Education.

Most notable is Hal Heiner, a Louisville businessman who is resigning as Education and Workplace Development Secretary to join the board.

Heiner lost to Bevin in the 2015 GOP primary for governor but then became part of Bevin’s cabinet. He has been a vocal advocate for charter schools and other education reform while also publicly criticizing JCPS.

Heiner has said that the district’s “consistent low-achievement has dragged Kentucky’s national ranking down each year,” and also said critiqued the school district’s reading competency.

Other new members include Kathy Gornik, Tracey Cusick, Joe Papalia, Laura Timberlake and Amanda Stamper, the former communications director for Bevin.

None of the new members have specific backgrounds in public education, teaching or administration, according to their profiles.

So, who is running the Education Cabinet now?

Heiner’s absence caused a shuffle in a couple government positions.

Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, will now serve as the interim Education and Workplace Development Secretary.

Parkinson’s role will be filled by that department’s deputy secretary, Regina Stivers.

Bevin said Heiner’s resignation was not a “shock or surprise” and that his subsequent appointment to the board of education was based on Heiner’s desire to be involved with education outside of a full-time role.

Here’s what the audit is and what it can do

The state announced the top-to-bottom audit last February when Donna Hargens was superintendent of JCPS.

Pruitt said an initial review into the district’s management had uncovered more than 20 “significant deficiencies,” including the widespread under-reporting of student seclusion and restraint, racial disparities in suspension rates and inadequate support for the district’s lowest-performing schools.

Under Kentucky law, there are four possible outcomes of the audit.

First, nothing. The audit could say nothing is necessary.

Second, the state could decide corrective action is necessary. This wouldn’t be as drastic as state assistance or a state takeover.

Third, JCPS is put under state-assistance. The district would create an improvement plan and state officials would be in Louisville to help implement it.

Finally, the state takes over JCPS.

Mandy McLaren can be reached at 502-582-4525 or by email at [email protected]. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/mandym. 

Thomas Novelly can be reached at 502-582-4465 or by email at [email protected]. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/tomn.