Fayette schools superintendent details “Blueprint For Student Success”

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Citing less than favorable student performance in reading and math, along with nearly fifty percent of students under-performing in the classroom; Fayette County Public Schools is presenting a plan to improve.

Superintendent Manny Caulk spoke about the “Blueprint For Student Success” in a room full of FCPS administrators, faculty and parents Wednesday. He also includes the findings of an independent audit of the district and how with that information, it will move forward.

In the preface of the “Blueprint”, Caulk presents causes for concern. It says last year, fewer than six out of 10 students reached “proficiency in reading and math.” It also points out what the district and parents agree are “alarming and unacceptable disparities” for students of color, students with special needs, students living in poverty or students whose native language is not English.

Caulk also acknowledges the fact that nearly half of the district’s children are not meeting academic standards. But, according to Caulk and FCPS leadership, there is a plan.

With that brief description of problems the district faces, Caulk presents an eight pillar program to improve the district.

Pillars include, “Effective governance and leadership”, “Great staff” and “Student, family, and community engagement” among others like “Student success: Educational excellence and equity.”

The latter is a plan which includes multi-faceted ways the administration plans to address what it calls its most important asset: students. Within that pillar are plans to establish academic priorities, implement a balanced assessment system and add college and career coaches at all high schools to support students. That means new jobs.

According to Caulk, those college and career coaches aren’t the only new positions the district will see pop up. In order to close what many see as an achievement gap between generally educated students and those with unique circumstances, even more teachers will be hired.

“That’s like a parent’s best day to come,” says Annette Jett.

Jett is a mother of two FCPS students, one of which is enrolled in the special education program. She’s pleased to hear that special education is included in the plan to hire additional teachers as soon as the 2016-17 school year.

“With special ed. we’ve had a few bumps in the road, particularly this year when some of the staffing changed for my daughter.”

It’s an area Caulk is enthusiastic about improving as well.

“So in areas of special education, one was that the teacher to student case load, having the appropriate resources there. Also professional learning,” he says.

The plan is also to add more teachers for “gifted and talented” students and those whose first language isn’t English.

Find a link to Caulk’s “Blueprint For Student Success” here.