Education

The Jefferson County Board of Education has approved the performance objectives for Superintendent Donna Hargens’s evaluation, but measuring student performance may still be a challenge.

The board approved the criteria at Monday night's board meeting. It measures three major performance objectives, including implementation of the new strategic plan, continuation assessing and organizing management and improving student achievement.

A Kentucky lawmaker is considering introducing legislation that would hold back third-graders who don’t meet the benchmark for reading. 

That’s the grade by which some experts have decided reading needs to be mastered.

Jefferson County Public Schools is one of 893 districts that have announced an intent to apply for new federal “Race to the Top” funding.

Kentucky applied for the federal government's competitive Race to the Top grants before, and last year the commonwealth received around $17 million after losing the larger grant it applied for.

The Jefferson County Teachers Association is prepared to fund campaigns for three candidates it recently endorsed for open school board seats, but union officials have not yet determined how much they may invest.

In previous races JCTA has pumped thousands of independent contributions to candidates and last week a 12-member JCTA committee endorsed David Jones Jr. in District 2, Lloyd “Chip” White in District 4 and Chris Brady in District 7.

The candidates represent diverse backgrounds, said JCPT president Brent McKim.