School Funding News Conference

1/4/2012

KEA President Sharron Oxendine joined leaders of six other K-12 education groups in calling on Governor Steve Beshear and the General Assembly to reverse four years of state funding reductions to key services that support teaching and learning in the state’s public schools.

At a January 4 news conference in the rotunda of the state Capitol Oxendine said Kentucky teachers “are being asked to give more of our own limited time to learn about the state’s new standards, new assessment, new technology, and new teaching methods. In some cases, we are being left to our own devices to figure out how to cope with the dramatic changes facing us and our students. At the very time we need more support, teachers are being given less. 

“KEA, as a member of KEAT, calls on the General Assembly to adequately fund teachers’ professional development.”  Sharron's statement is available at www.keepkentuckylearning.com.

KEAT, The Kentucky Education Action Team, is a historic coalition of organizations representing the full spectrum of elementary and secondary education in Kentucky. They include Kentucky Association of School Administrators; Kentucky Association of School Councils; Kentucky Association of School Superintendents; Kentucky Education Association; Kentucky Parent Teacher Association; Kentucky School Boards Association and the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

Prichard Committee Executive Director Stu Silberman said, “Having all of these organizations come together like this is a historic time for Kentucky. We believe that education is the bridge to a better life for all Kentuckians. The progress that has been made over the last 20 years is in danger of regression due to the reductions in funding.”

Wilson Sears, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents said his members are “excited about the collaboration.  This is perhaps the first partnership that focuses entirely on funding issues that impact our children.”