32nd Annual Report 2024
Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children
Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children
Mission
We are committed to the belief that all children can learn and have a right to quality education. KECSAC protects and assures this right by accessing resources and providing support to programs that educate State Agency Children.
Those children who do not receive an education of quality cannot realize their greatest potential. We believe these goals are achieved through the process of collaboration.
To accomplish the mission, all members of this statewide partnership must exemplify and publicly promote collaborative relationships with its partners and other associates.
Timeline & Background
1990 - Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA)
1992 - Senate Bill 260 passed
• Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children established (KRS 158.135)
1994 - House Bill 826 passed
• Definition of State Agency Children expanded to include youth placed or financed through the Cabinet for Families and Children and other residential treatment programs
1996 - House Bill 117 passed
• Department of Juvenile Justice established
1998 - House Bill 447 passed
• Definition of State Agency Children expanded to include youth in therapeutic foster care and juvenile detention facilities
In 1992, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 260, which called for the establishment of the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC). The Commonwealth of Kentucky annually provides residential and community based services to nearly 12,000 youth. These state agency children (SAC) are the responsibility of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, Department for Community Based Services, and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, which operate, fund or contract for services from a variety of programs including residential facilities, group homes, and day treatment centers. These three state agencies, along with the Kentucky Department of Education, comprise the core membership of this innovative statewide collaborative dedicated to assuring a quality education for state agency children.
The education of at-risk youth is a significant component of most agencies’ treatment interventions. Prior to the establishment of the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children, the education programs for SAC were traditionally limited by inequitable funding, management, and service coordination. The different levels of educational services provided to youth compounded the inequities that existed in the delivery of educational services to at-risk and delinquent youth in Kentucky.
Interagency Advisory Group
The Interagency Advisory Group is comprised of members from partner state agencies who assist KECSAC with developing policies and guidelines for its funded programs. The group analyzes the goals, needs and requirements of KECSAC and recommends strategies for the benefit of the nearly 8,400 state agency children educated annually.
Lalah Brewer - Kentucky Department of Education - Branch Manager, Division of Student Success
300 Sower Boulevard, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-4772 ext. 4028 | lalah.brewer@education.ky.gov
Jeremy Camron - Owensboro Day Treatment - School Administrator - SACSAA President-Elect 3108 Fairview Drive, Owensboro, KY 42303
Phone: 270-687-7247; Fax: 270-687-7334; jeremy.camron@daviess.kyschools.us
Lacheena Carothers- Dept. of Juvenile Justice - Title I Part D, Subpart I Administrator 1025 Capital Center Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-892-3660; Fax: 502-573-2048; lacheenal.carothers@ky.gov
Diane Gruen-Kidd - Dept. for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities - Behavioral Health
Professional - 275 East Main Street, 4WG, Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-782-6165; Fax: 502-564-4826; diane.gruen-kidd@ky.gov
Shannon Jett - Dept. of Juvenile Justice - Education Branch Manager 1025 Capital Center Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-892-3660; Fax: 502-573-2048; shannonm.jett@ky.gov
Mark Kopp - Franklin County Schools - Superintendent 652 Chamberlin Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-695-6700; mark.kopp@franklin.kyschools.us
Christina Weeter - Kentucky Department of Education - Division of Student Success - Director
300 Sower Boulevard, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-4772 ext. 4067; Fax: 502-564-7820; christina.weeter@education.ky.gov
Lorraine Wilbur - Dept. for Community Based Services - Chafee Program Administrator
275 E. Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-564-2147 ext. 3670; Fax: 502-564-5995; lorraine.wilbur@ky.gov
Angela Harris Winkfield - Dept. for Community Based Services - Social Services Specialist
275 E. Main Street, 3E-D, Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-564-2147 ext. 3555; Fax: 502-564-5995; angela.harris@ky.gov
A Message from Executive Director Dr. Ronnie Nolan
Dear Friends,
Over the course of the last year, we have had the great opportunity to visit many of our programs across the Commonwealth. Some of those visits were part of a Study Tour professional learning opportunity for our school administrators while others were simply to get boots on the ground and learn from our educators. We have met with exceptional teachers who are dedicated to providing the best education possible to children and youth who are in the care or custody of Kentucky. It was during these visits I had the opportunity to talk with the educators and administrators who would later be recognized for their service at our annual Kentucky Alternative Education Summit. Research shows us that the single most effective factor for increased student achievement is having a highly-qualified, dedicated teacher directing instruction. We know it is critically important for our teachers to know our students, but it is also as important for them to know how to build relationships and deliver content focused instruction. It’s the balance between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it that makes all the difference for the children and youth we serve. The educators recognized for their service at our Summit know exactly what our students need, and they deliver.
Educating students in state care isn’t something that is done in a vacuum without collaboration and partnerships. It is something that requires an “all hands-on deck” approach. That’s why we are also grateful for the leadership of the Kentucky General Assembly who continues to invest in the education of state agency children. During the previous legislative budget session, the General Assembly continued to prioritize the education of state agency children. Senator Chris McDaniel and Representative Jason Petrie, chairpersons of the appropriation and revenue committees in the legislature, reviewed the needs of our partnering school districts and provided a record allocation for our students. During the 2024 legislative session the legislature allocated $12.5 million to support KECSAC school districts in each year of the biennial budget. These funds continue to make a world of difference for our students and the school districts who support them.
In our pursuit of educational excellence for state agency children, KECSAC has continued to make improvements in the quality of services provided to our state agency children. Our educators, paired with record support by our legislative leaders has positioned our districts to make a significant impact on the educational outcomes for state agency children. In addition, KECSAC Program Improvement Specialists continue to provide ongoing monitoring and support to our local school districts and our programs through a comprehensive annual review process. We also continue to offer professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators who work with state agency children. These accomplishments, and many others, are highlighted in this annual report. You will find enclosed a summary of our work and accomplishments, as well as details related to our ongoing initiatives. The ambitious action agenda we are highlighting here could not happen without the broad base of support we have formed with our state agency partners, our local school districts and the teachers and administrators working on behalf of state agency children. We appreciate your continued support as we work to enhance the educational services provided to our students.
Sincerely,
Ronnie Nolan, Ed.D.
Outstanding SACSAA Awards 2024
Since the 2024 State Agency Children School Administrator’s Association (SACSAA) Award recipients are named at the end of the school year, we recognized them during the 23rd Annual Kentucky Alternative Education Summit (KAES), held July 30-31, 2024. The list of award recipients recognized during the KAES held in July 2023 is located in the Professional Development section on pages 10-11.
Our 2024 SACSAA Award winners embody the characteristics of exemplary educators, support personnel, and involved community members. They possess the dedication and skill needed to provide the best education possible to students at-risk. All the nominations were evaluated and decided by the KECSAC Interagency Advisory Group during their summer retreat held in June 2024.
The Russell W. Behanan Outstanding KECSAC Administrator of the Year winner for 2024 is Lori Barton who serves as School Administrator at Corbin Educational Center and ASPIRE Mental Health Day Treatment in the Corbin Independent School District. Ms. Barton was nominated as one of the most innovative administrators working with state agency children. The Kentucky Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Learning have been working with KECSAC programs for years to ensure students receive the special education services they need and deserve. While preparing for a recent special education audit from KDE, Mrs. Barton rallied her team and created one of the most innovative training programs for her staff that KECSAC has encountered. She made learning fun, not just for her students, but for her whole team who had a shared responsibility for implementing a comprehensive special education program. She did this by partnering with her district DoSE and other district leaders to create an online trivia game that focused on special education policies, law, and practical implementation processes. As a surprise to absolutely no one, her district received an excellent audit. But she wasn’t done there, she knew other programs across Kentucky could benefit from her experience, so she partnered with KECSAC to provide additional training to other programs so they too could deliver exceptional special education services to their students. Congratulations to Ms. Barton!
The second Russell W. Behanan Outstanding KECSAC Administrator of the Year winner is Chris Gilkey who serves as School Administrator at Cumberland Hall School in the Christian County School District. Mr. Gilkey leads a program for students who are experiencing significant mental health needs and knows how important it is for our students to not only experience academic success, but to create positive, joyful memories in their childhood. Sometimes one can forget that they are working with children and youth, no matter how grown up some may appear to be. He works with his team and his partner agency to embed joyful moments in the lives of his students. KECSAC leadership saw this firsthand this school year during a study tour with IAG members. The team had the opportunity to observe classrooms, talk with students, and meet Mr. Gilkey’s team. They were struck by the laughter of his students, the smiles they had, and the pure joy that was so evident. The board left that program knowing that students not only receive a high-quality education by exceptional teachers, but that the students were also finding joy in a difficult situation. Congratulations to Mr. Gilkey!
The Russell W. Behanan KECSAC Administrator of the Year Award
The Roy L. Chapman Outstanding Teachers of State Agency Children Award
Our first Roy L. Chapman Outstanding Teacher of State Agency Children Award winner for 2024 is Debbie Harris, who is the Head Teacher at Dessie Scott School in the Wolfe County School District and is retiring this year. Ms. Harris is an inspirational leader who embodies the ideals of innovation, creativity, and developing meaningful, project-based learning experiences for her students. Most of the students at her program have exceptional needs, and rather than focus on what her students may not be able to do, she dives right into teaching them what they need to know to be successful after leaving state care. Many of her students transition into independent and assisted living programs, so she and her team saw a need for her students to learn how not only to survive into adulthood but thrive. With support from her district and through additional grant funding, she led an effort to develop a fully functioning apartment, and a mock concession stand/ food service within the walls of her school. As a result, her students are so proud of their work, of what they have accomplished and the life skills they have gained to benefit them in their next placement. She is surrounded by a wonderful team of colleagues, who have all created a model for meeting students where they are and giving them the skills and resources they need. Congratulations Ms. Harris!
The second Roy L. Chapman Outstanding Teacher of State Agency Children Award recipient for 2024 is Kristie Minton, who is the Math Teacher at Ohio County Day Treatment in the Render Education Center of Ohio County Schools. Ms. Minton has more than 20 years’ experience working with children and youth in a state agency program because she knows the population of students is one that needs her expertise the most. She is dedicated to making math fun, relevant, meaningful, and accessible to our students, which is no easy feat. Her colleagues describe her as unwavering, dedicated, and compassionate. She embodies the essence of what it means to be an outstanding educator and goes above and beyond to inspire students to perform at their best. While accomplishing all this, she also fosters a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and supported. Congratulations to Ms. Minton!
Outstanding Support Staff of the Year Award
The Outstanding Support Staff of State Agency Children winner for 2024 is Andrea Ratliff, who is the DJJ School Secretary at Owensboro Day Treatment with Daviess County School District. This award honors exemplary state agency program staff members, whether they are assistants or treatment staff, who are working to make a difference in the lives of state agency children. With more than 30 years of service to students in the juvenile justice system, Ms. Ratliff is described as a joy to work with, and someone who makes you feel like you are the most important person in the room. Her hard-working, big-hearted nature is evident in her service to the students, staff, and educators at the program since she builds meaningful relationships with all her counterparts. Her colleagues say she is constantly thinking of ways to provide better support and care for youth, to better run the office, and fosters collaboration when bringing new students into the program. She goes above and beyond daily to give students everything they need to be successful, even going so far as to buy new shoes or clothing for those in need. Congratulations Ms. Ratliff!
Outstanding Community Member of the Year Award
The KECSAC Outstanding Community Member of the Year award winner for 2024 is LaNora Long for her art education services to the students at Future Forward Education & Career Center (FFECC) in the Franklin County School District. Ms. Long is a Harlan, KY native and a proud coal miner’s daughter, who has dedicated her life to the arts. She has a graduate degree from Georgetown College in Fine Arts and spent 35 years teaching art to students in Fayette County Schools and adults at the adult education center. After retiring, she joined On the Move Art Studio - a nonprofit that visits under-served communities and provides art lessons - and began her work with the boys at FFECC. Anytime you enter the facility, you will see the students’ art projects on display and there’s always a variety of mediums and topics represented. At a recent graduation event at FFECC the students time and again greeted her with a hug, a warm smile, and thanks for all she does. The pride she has for her students and their accomplishments was clearly evident. Congratulations Ms. Long!
2023 KECSAC Census Preview
Each year since KECSAC began in 1992, as part of the Department of Education’s Child Count, KECSAC staff have gathered and reported demographic information about the students served in KECSAC-funded programs. The information received from the December 1 census provides a one-day descriptive snapshot of the students educated in KECSAC-funded programs, including but not limited to: age, grade level, race, gender, identified disability, the number of students in the program on that day, and the total number of children served during the previous 12-month period. The census also gathers information about where the youth come from when entering a state agency program, as well as where they transition to when leaving the program.
The census count shows 1,490 students received all or part of their educational services from one of 71 KECSAC-funded programs located in 46 school districts throughout the state contracted with KECSAC through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). KECSAC also asked administrators to report how many different students they served in their program during the 12-month period between December 2, 2022, and December 1, 2023. Administrators report that 7,484 different youth received educational services during that period.
Service to state agency children (SAC) is provided by one of Kentucky’s three state agencies that provide direct care to children, the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID).
Agency Serving SAC
Race/Ethnicity of
As shown in Figure 1, fifty-three percent (n=795) of all state agency youth receive educational services while living in one of 31 programs contracted with DCBS. These students may live in group homes, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, hospital settings, treatment centers, or temporary shelters. DCBS contracts with private providers to administer the necessary care and treatment for these students. Programs operated by or contracted with DJJ provided educational services to forty-five percent (n=665) of all state agency children in one of thirty-eight operated or contracted programs. DJJ operates and owns thirteen residential facilities, five daytreatment programs and two residential group homes. Youth in DJJ-operated residential programs have been adjudicated by the courts and committed or probated to the custody of DJJ for a specific period. Sixty-four percent (n=424) of the DJJ population are in DJJ owned and operated programs. DJJ also contracts with local school districts to provide eighteen additional day-treatment programs. Youth in contracted day-treatment programs are court ordered to attend the program as an attempt to stabilize the youth before placement in a more restrictive environment, such as a residential program, or as a requirement of probation. Thirty -six percent (n=241) of the DJJ population attend contracted treatment programs. In 2023, two percent (n=30) of all youth in KECSAC-funded programs receive services from a mental health day treatment (DBHDID) program.
The KECSAC census, conducted as part of the IDEA Child Find project, identifies state agency children who have been diagnosed with an IDEA educational disability. On December 1, 2023, forty-two percent (n=631) of all youth receiving educational services in a program funded by KECSAC had been identified with an educational disability that adversely affects their educational progress. As illustrated, 30 percent (n=189) of all children identified with an educational disability and receiving educational services in a KECSAC-funded state agency program on December 1 have been diagnosed with an
Fig. 1
Emotional-Behavioral Disability (EBD) while 28.4 percent (n=179) of SAC diagnosed with an educational disability have a disability in the Other Health Impairment (OHI). Disabilities in this category include chronic or acute health problems such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, leukemia, and Tourette syndrome. From year to year, the types of disabilities diagnosed most often in the state agency children population changes. Although the types of educational disabilities change, one thing stays constant, students in the care and custody of the state and placed in a SAC program continue to have extensive educational needs because of the severity of the educational disabilities they exhibit.
Educational Disabilities of State Agency Children
The census taken each year provides valuable information about the race and ethnicity of the youth in state care. According to the December 1 census, 64.6 percent (n=962) of SAC are classified as White while 21.3 percent (n=318) are classified as Black or African American. According to the state 2022-2023 school report card, 72.7 percent (n=460,913) of all students in Kentucky public schools are classified as White and 10.8 percent (n=68,452) are classified as Black or African American. With more than twice the percentage of Black students in state agency programs than in regular Kentucky public schools, a disproportional number of Black or African American youth are being educated in state agency programs. Youth classified as Two or More races represent 7.4 percent (n=111), and youth identified as Hispanic/Latino account for 5.8 percent (n=86) of all SAC. Just .9 percent (n=13) of all SAC in a KECSAC-funded program on December 1 was identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
KECSAC-funded state agency educational programs provide funding to students between the ages of 5 and 21. On December 1, 2023, the average age of a youth in KECSAC-funded programs was fifteen years old. The largest age group of state agency children are 15-year-olds with 20.5 percent (n=306) of the population followed by 16-year-old students with 19.8 percent (n=295).
The largest numbers of SAC were in 9th and 10th grade, representing 47.9 percent (n=713) of the entire SAC population in a KECSAC-funded program. Youth in grade eleven represent 13.6 percent (n=203) of the SAC population while 6.3 percent (n=94) are in grade twelve. Grades six through eight represent 23.2 percent (n=345) of the population. Students in grades Kindergarten through five represent 7.2 percent (n=108) of the population. Students in grade 14 (special education students participating in alternate assessment who have previously progressed through grade twelve assessments), and graduates represent just 1.2 percent (n=18) of the SAC receiving educational services in a KECSACfunded program.
The gender division of youth in KECSAC-funded programs changes very little from year to year. According to information submitted on December 1, males represented sixty-seven percent (n=992) and females represented thirtythree percent (n=498) of the total population.
Local school districts employ the equivalent of 298 full-time certified teachers who provide educational services to youth in KECSAC funded programs across the state. These teachers generally teach in classrooms located at the treatment program (not in a district building) and may teach several grade levels in one classroom. Seven of these teachers hold a National Board Certification and sixty-three percent (n=188) are certified in special education. Seventeen teachers in KECSAC-funded programs were emergency certified. School districts also provide eighty-six full-time equivalent teaching assistants and ninety-five full-time equivalent educational support staff to meet the intense educational needs of state agency children. Thirty-five districts provide a full-time administrator to oversee SAC education programs.
Professional Development: 2023-2024 In Review
KECSAC’s Kentucky Alternative Education Summit 2023
For the first time since 2019, the Annual Kentucky Alternative Education Summit was held in person! For the 22nd time, educators from all over Kentucky gathered for professional development specifically geared toward alternative education settings and practices. The Summit was held at Embassy Suites in Lexington, KY on July 20-21, 2023. More than 250 teachers, administrators, support staff, and state agency partners attended two days of keynote addresses, featured whole group sessions, and breakout workshops. Opening keynote speaker Horacio Sanchez got the audience on their feet and even on the stage as he provided an interactive and engaging overview of how brain science affects the students in our classrooms.
Breakout workshops on topics ranging from core content strategies, school safety, legislation affecting programs, special education best practices, and more offered every attendee something that they could relate directly to their roles and students. Two featured whole group sessions were offered. Camille Croweake and Tara Rueckert from the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities discussed the wideranging concern among educators today - youth vaping. Ian Gabriel provided an address to the audience on the final day of the Summit. Ian is a professional in the field of youth and family work and advocacy who also experienced state care during his own childhood. Ian shared his story and how that has informed his work. Finally, the event ended with a keynote by Adam Welcome. Adam led the audience in an examination of how educators must use modern techniques with modern students because each student and teacher is deserving of success.
KECSAC would like to thank the educators and state agency partners who shared their time and expertise with this very important population of Kentucky’s school personnel. State agency children and other students in alternative education settings throughout the state have some of the best professionals working with them every day to lead them to a bright future. These educators give up their personal time during the summer to come together to learn, be inspired, and network with one another.
Left to Right: KECSAC Associate Dir. Sherri Clusky, SACSAA PresidentElect Jeremy Camron, Outstanding Teacher of the Year Anita Groenwoldt, Outstanding Support Staff of the Year Crystal McElroy, and KECSAC Dir. Ronnie Nolan.
Top Photo: Attendees gathered during a general session at the Summit.
Bottom Photo: Keynote Speaker Horacio Sanchez engaged the audience during his presentation
Congratulations to our 2023 SACSAA Award Winners!
The 2022/2023 SACSAA Award winners were recognized at our 22nd Annual Kentucky Alternative Education Summit held during the first quarter in July. Our SACSAA Award winners (pictured below) were: Nathan Howton, the Russell W. Behanan Outstanding Administrator of the Year as administrator of Hopkins County Day Treatment in Hopkins County; Crystal McElroy, the Outstanding Staff of the Year as a counselor at Maryhurst Jefferson County Public Schools; and Anita Groenwoldt, the Roy L. Chapman Outstanding Teacher of the State Agency Children as Special Education (LBD) Teacher and PBIS Coach at Future Forward Education and Career Center in the Franklin County School District.
KECSAC Administrator of the Year
Nathan Howton
Outstanding Support Staff of the Year
Crystal McElroy
Outstanding Teacher of State Agency Children
Anita Groenwoldt
New Educators’ Training Held August 25
Each year, KECSAC hosts a training for any teachers or administrators new to a KECSAC program. Approximately 45 such educators attended the 2023 New Educators Training on August 25 in Frankfort, KY. The agenda for the day involved a KECSAC overview and introduction to state agency partners, a review of the program improvement process, classroom management training, and a presentation by seasoned KECSAC educators regarding the Special Education Audit experience. All sessions offered valuable information, and the trainers present gave the audience time to ask questions and find out what motivates and challenges educators in state agency programs. KECSAC looks forward to working with each of these new educators in the coming years.
The 2023 New Educators’ Training took place in Frankfort on August 25 where those new to a KECSAC program learned all about working with state agency children.
Professional Development: 2023-2024 In Review
KECSAC Hosts Eastern Kentucky Study Tour
On October 25, 2023 KECSAC leadership took a small but intentional cohort of KECSAC school administrators on a study tour of Southeast Kentucky programs. The group visited four state agency programs to learn about commonalities and differences among various educational settings. The first program visit was to The Providence School in Nicholasville. TPS is a blended program that serves students at a state agency group home in the district. Staff at TPS shared all of the innovative programming and outcome data of that work with the attendees. A tour of the beautifully remodeled facility brought lots of ideas and inspiration to the group. Next, the group traveled to Corbin to meet with students and staff at Corbin Educational Center, a DJJ Day Treatment program. The students at CEC were really engaged with the group and described how their level and incentive system works. It was clear that faculty really made an effort to set clear and reasonable expectations. The participants met for dinner that evening and reflected on takeaways and observations from the day. Lodging was provided at Cumberland Falls State Park.
Day two of the study tour involved traveling to Wayne County to visit the two state agency programs located therein. Leadership at Lake Cumberland Youth Development Center showcased the impressive vocational programming available to students. Young men at LCYDC have the opportunity to learn welding and were proud show off the incredible projects they have produced along with the valuable job skills they have gained. Finally, the group was able to tour Otter Creek Academy. Otter Creek is a group home serving young ladies and is located in a beautiful and serene nature setting. School administration explained the structure of the school day, led the group through the cottages decorated by the residents, and took them to the impressive green house. The students had produced an amazing selection of flora, much of which was still producing fruit. KECSAC would like to thank the leadership of each program for hosting an insightful and educational tour of a sampling of the excellent programs in their area of the Commonwealth.
Behavior Management Training Series: Empowering Educators for Success
During the third quarter of the 2023/2024 school year, KECSAC hosted a three-part virtual training series hosted by Karen King. The Behavior Management Training Series was a resounding success, providing educators with invaluable tools and strategies to enhance their classroom environments. Held on April 10, April 16, and April 24, this series offered concrete solutions for some of the most pressing challenges in education: Classroom Management, Noncompliance, and De-Escalation. Each session of the training series was meticulously designed to address specific aspects of behavior management, ensuring that educators walked away with actionable strategies they could immediately implement in their classrooms. Karen King’s extensive experience and skill in behavior management were evident throughout the series. Her practical advice and real-world examples resonated with attendees, providing them with the confidence and knowledge to apply these strategies in their classrooms. While recognizing the demanding schedules of educators, the series was made available through live Zoom sessions and recorded videos. This flexibility allowed participants to engage with the content at their own pace, ensuring they could fully benefit from the training regardless of their availability during the live sessions. As a result in providing these practical strategies and flexible learning options, Ms. King has empowered teachers to create environments where both students and educators can thrive. As more educators take advantage of these training opportunities, the impact on classroom dynamics and student outcomes will undoubtedly continue to grow.
Study tour participants and KECSAC Staff visited four KECSAC programs during their local study tour and stopped at the Cumberland Falls State Park after the visits.
KECSAC Sponsors Professional Development Opportunities
KECSAC supports educators of state agency children by providing quality professional development to meet their specific needs. Part of that support took the form of the KECSAC Professional Development Stipend Program during the third quarter of the 2023-2024 school year. KECSAC program teachers and administrators were offered the opportunity to attend one of several national conferences, and KECSAC footed the bill! On offer were: the South by Southwest EDU conference in Austin, TX on March 4-7; the Innovative Schools Summits either in Orlando, FL on March 7-10 or Nashville, TN on June 19-23; or the CEC Convention & Expo in San Antonio, TX on March 13-16. KECSAC received 19 applications for funds from staff at 8 different SAC programs and was able to approve them all. These requests were for the Innovative Schools Summits, the CEC Convention, and for the Southeast Conference on School Climate in Savannah, GA on June 3-7. The School Climate Conference was requested by a school administrator and approved for funds. In total $37,800 was distributed to districts to fund registration fees, travel, and lodging expenses. Several programs sent their entire teaching team to the conference of their choice. This will promote consistency and collaboration within the program and is highly encouraged by KECSAC. While two of the events took place in June, funds were distributed during the third quarter so that registration, flights, and lodging could be acquired. This PD Stipend initiative was the first of its kind for KECSAC, and considered a great success. Should funds be available in the future, the initiative will be continued.
Breakdown of EILA Hours Awarded in 2023
Budget Review 2023-2024
2023-2024 KECSAC SACF and Operational Budget
KECSAC was allocated $12,500,000 for the 2024 Fiscal Budget Year. The allocation is placed with the Kentucky Department of Education as a line item. The following graph outlines the 2023-2024 final Operational Budget in detail. The chart on pages 16 -17 details the final State Agency Children Fund (SACF) allocations for the 2023-2024 year.
KECSAC Operating Budget $
SACF
$11,590,193 (92.72%)
Total KECSAC Allocation
$12,500,000
- Directly allocated to Local School Districts (92.72%)
- KECSAC Operating Budget (7.28%)
KECSAC Operating Budget $909,807 (7.46%)
2023-2024 KECSAC Operational Budget Breakdown
Personnel $571,231.06 (62.79%):
Salaries and Benefits for Director, Associate Director, Budget Specialist, Communication & Development Coordinator and Training Coordinator
Support Services for Districts & Programs $216,612.49 (23.81%): Program Improvement Specialist, Educational Training Specialist and Professional Development for KECSAC Programs
Operating Expenses $26,474.97 (2.91%):
Communication Cost, Copier Maintenance Contract, Office Supplies, Software Upgrades, Printing, Membership Dues, Meeting Cost, SACSAA Awards, Technology and Database Maintenance
Professional Development-Staff $4,521.66 (0.5%): KECSAC Annual Work Retreat with Interagency Advisory Group Members
Travel-Staff $8,256.82 (0.91%): In-State and Out-of-State Travel
KSBA Indirect $82,710.00 (9.09%):
KSBA Provides office space, legal services, meeting space, technology support and administrative support
State Agency Children’s Fund (SACF)
$11,590,193 (92.54%)
Distributed directly to programs through a Memorandum of Agreement with District
Projected Budget 2024-2025
2024-2025 KECSAC SACF and Operational Budget
The following graph outlines the projected Fiscal Year 2025 KECSAC Operational and SACF Budget in detail.
KECSAC Operating Budget $920,432 (7.36%)
Total KECSAC Allocation $12,500,000 - Directly allocated to Local School Districts (92.64%) - KECSAC Operating Budget (7.36%)
2024-2025 KECSAC Operational Budget Breakdown
Personnel $621,807 (67.56%):
Salaries and Benefits for Director, Associate Director, Budget Specialist, Communication & Development Coordinator and Training Coordinator
Support Services for Districts & Programs $178,300 (19.37%): Program Improvement Specialist, Educational Training Specialist and Professional Development for KECSAC Programs
Operating Expenses $18,150 (1.97%):
Communication Cost, Copier Services, Office Supplies, Office Furniture, Software Upgrades, Printing, Membership Dues, Meeting Cost, SACSAA Awards, SAC Student Awards, Media Production Services, Technology, and Vehicular Maintenance
Professional Development-Staff $6,500 (0.71%): KECSAC Annual Work Retreat with Interagency Advisory Group Members
Travel-Staff $12,000 (1.30%): In-State and Out-of-State Travel
KSBA Indirect $83,675 (9.09%): KSBA Provides office space, legal services, meeting space, technology support and administrative support
State Agency Children’s Fund (SACF)
$11,579,568 (92.64%)
Distributed directly to programs through a Memorandum of Agreement with District
KECSAC’s Special Allocation of Targeted Funds for 2024
Despite the amazing efforts of state agency programs across Kentucky to provide the best learning environment for their students, the reality of educational budgets often means that some supplies, technology, and projects that enhance learning aren’t feasible. In order to help this deficit for academic initiatives in currently-funded programs, KECSAC endeavors to make supplemental “special funds” available each year if there is an availability in the State Agency Children’s budget. This Special Allocation of Targeted Funds is intended to help programs implement projects designed to meet the significant academic achievement needs of the state agency children they serve.
What makes these targeted funding opportunities available is the fact that each year KECSAC earmarks a certain amount of State Agency Children Funds (SACF) to mitigate the impact should there be a mid-year state budget reduction. If the state does not issue any reductions during the spring legislative session, then some of these funds are funneled back to KECSAC programs as an increased per-child rate. Otherwise, all KECSAC educational programs are given the opportunity to apply for a “special allocation” for them to utilize in ways that will directly impact the achievement gap our students face. Sometimes funds also become available for special allocations if programs close during the academic year.
“We want our programs to have the opportunity to use those funds in a more direct way to benefit students. So as in years past, we opened this competitive allocation for programs to implement specific projects or initiatives they wouldn’t otherwise have the funds for,” KECSAC Executive Director Ronnie Nolan explained.
The KECSAC office began accepting applications from January 4 through February 2, 2024. By the deadline for submissions, 34 proposals from different KECSAC programs were received highlighting the use of varied projects and initiatives, including school supplies, technology for the classroom, textbooks, library books, science tools and curriculum, career and technical education supplies, music and art supplies, and much more. This year, each application was limited to $10,000 per program, and submissions outlined details, goals, and the impact of the project/initiative if it were awarded. The KECSAC team reviewed each proposal carefully based on the allowable criteria for funds, and this year all the requests received were funded partially or in total. All recipients of the targeted funds are also encouraged to report back to KECSAC the outcomes and successes of their projects.
You can review the list of KECSAC programs that received KECSAC’s Special Allocation of Targeted Funds and a very brief description of projects and supplies to be funded in the table on the next page.
1
3 Boyle Co Boyle County Day Treatment
4
5
$10,000.00 Julie Brown Skills System to manage emotions and impact behavior
$5,000.00 Classroom furniture, bulletin board supplies
7 Campbell Co Alexandria Educational Center $8,000.00 Scientific calculators, graphing calculators, white board, instructional supplies for History and Geography classes, furniture
8 Christian Co Christian County Day Treatment
9
13 Graves Co Mayfield YDC
$7,500.00 Imagine Learning (formerly Edgenuity)
Calculators, maps, binders, whiteboard, student chairs, 10 chromebooks with headphones, instructional supplies
$7,500.00 Computer monitors, desktop printers, office furniture
14 Hardin Co Hardin County Day Treatment $9,800.00 Drama instructor, library software, science equipment, supplies for kitchen and cooking life skills
15 Hopkins Co Hopkins County Day Treatment
$10,000.00 Career simulation technology, PD, instructional materials
16 Jackson Co Barnabus Middle & High School $10,000.00 Upgrading technological resources, literary resources, library books
17 Jessamine Co The Providence School $10,000.00 Chromebooks, classroom interactive devices, PD for staff, supplies for the outdoor classroom
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20 LaRue Co
Life Connection $10,000.00 15 touch screen Chromebooks, 3D printer, 2 Dell Desktops, 2 computer desks, subscription to Freckle Premium
21 Marshall Co Purchase Youth Village
$6,000.00
22 McCracken Co McCracken Regional School $10,000.00
Online subscriptions, teacher supplies, PD registrations/fees, sensory materials
KECSAC Funds Allocation By MUNIS Code Expenditures
for 23/24
This graph breaks down how all of our KECSAC Programs use their State Agency Children’s Funds by their MUNIS budget codes. As you can see, the majority of SACF funds across all districts are used for Employee Salaries and Benefits, comprising 88.48% of the total allocation.
Total State Agency Children Fund (SACF) $11,590,193.00
Achievements & Updates
Program Updates for 2023-2024
In the past year there were 71 KECSAC-funded programs in 46 school districts across the Commonwealth. Approximately 7,484 students were served by KECSAC programs as well. The following are program changes that took effect during the 2023-2024 school year:
New Program: Heartland Youth Village – Nelson County Schools
New Program: Todd County Day Treatment – Todd County Schools
No MOA Signed/ No funding: Audrey Grevious Center – Fayette County Schools
No Longer Contracting with KECSAC: Children’s Home of Northern KY – Burlington Campus: Boone County Schools
No Longer Contracting with KECSAC: Brighton Center Homeward Bound – Covington Independent Schools
KECSAC Program Improvement Process Updates
As part of KECSAC’s ongoing program improvement process and continual growth model for helping local school districts meet the educational needs of state agency children, KECSAC Program Improvement Specialists perform annual site visits and monitoring of each of the 71 funded KECSAC programs, operating in 46 local school districts across the Commonwealth. Throughout the monitoring period (which coincides with the school year) programs receive individual in-person visits, virtual visits via Zoom, or “team” visits where both of the Specialists conduct a joint monitoring at the same program. All 71 programs were monitored during the 2023/2024 school year, and Program Improvement Specialists continue to offer technical support to programs as needed or requested.
Specialized Program Improvement Initiative Provides Additional Support
The Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children is dedicated to continually improving academic and social emotional outcomes for state agency children. In order to facilitate continued growth for programs and districts meeting the educational needs of our students, KECSAC embarked on a new initiative to provide additional technical support to identified programs. The KECSAC team reviewed program improvement data collected via site visits, selfassessments, and document reviews to determine programs who would benefit from additional support from the program improvement team. This year the following programs were selected: Ashgrove Academy in Jessamine County; Christian County Day Treatment; Frenchburg Success Academy in Menifee County; and, Glendale Center in Elizabethtown Independent. The program improvement specialists have invested additional resources, including both time and financial, to support these programs by conducting supplemental site visits, providing financial supports to improve outcomes, and by implementing additional professional development offerings. The goal of the program is to improve outcomes for our students while supporting the teachers and administrators who are providing direct educational services.
Achievements & Updates
KECSAC Hosts Second Annual Poetry, Writing, and Art Contests in 2023/2024
Last September KECSAC once again held a Statewide Poetry Contest for state agency students. Submissions were received from September 8-29, 2023, and winners were then announced October 13. During the contest we received many submissions that illustrated the creative talent and skill of our students in KECSAC programs. The Poetry Contest was an open subject prompt and was broken down into categories of grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. The panel of judges were faced with tough choices as all the entries were incredible in their own right. Each winner received a gift card and certificates to honor their achievement. The following is a list of the winners of the Poetry contest in each grade category.
9th - 12th Grade Category
1st place: M.B., “Special Relationship” - Warren County Day Treatment
2nd place: F.P., “Gateway Countdown” - Gateway Children’s Services
3rd place: D.C., “Revisiting the Advice for My Own Grief” - Maryhurst
Honorable Mention: C.R., “Lost” - Frenchburg Success Academy
6th - 8th Grade Category
1st place: S.T., “The Autumn Breeze” - Purchase Youth Village
2nd place: E.L., “A Beautiful Mess” - Purchase Youth Village
3rd place: L.L., “Luminous” - Gateway Children’s Services
Honorable Mention: A.L., “My Life” - Frenchburg Success Academy
Last fall we also requested submissions for our second annual Statewide Student Essay Writing Competition from October 27 - December 1, 2023. Students had three categories to choose to enter: persuasive essay, narrative essay, or descriptive essay. Each category was also open to submissions from students in grades 6-8 and students from grades 9-12. Winners were announced on December 8. The judging panel had a challenging time choosing winners since there were so many great entries that showcased the writing talents of our students, their technical skill, and their depth of reflection. Each winner received a gift card and certificates to honor their achievement. The following entries below were identified as winners in each category.
Grades 9-12 Persuasive
1st place: D.H., Juveniles Need More Phone Calls Throughout the Week – Lake Cumberland YDC
2nd place: J.G., Should Felons Have Their Voting Rights Reinstated? – Lake Cumberland YDC
3rd place: A.C., Ban School Uniforms – Christian Co. Day Treatment
Honorable Mention: C.M., Phones or No Phones? – Warren Co. Day Treatment
Grades 6-8 Persuasive
1st place: T.S., Why I Should Get off of The Naughty List This Year – Pulaski Co. Day Treatment
Honorable Mention: A.L., Why Civil Rights Should be Taught in School – Frenchburg Success Academy
Grades 9-12 Narrative
1st place: M.M., Hospital Trip – Christian Co. Day Treatment
2nd place: G.E., Best Friends – Christian Co. Day Treatment
3rd place: A.M., Turning Negatives into Positives – Lake Cumberland YDC
Grades 6-8 Narrative
Honorable Mention: D.F., The Day the Biggest Double M got Arrested – Christian Co. Day Treatment
Grades 9-12 Descriptive
Honorable Mention: K.T., Why Me? – Purchase Youth Village
Achievements & Updates
Grades 6-8 Descriptive
Honorable Mention: J.B., Fire – Purchase Youth Village
During the third quarter of 2023/2024 KECSAC requested submissions for our second annual Statewide KECSAC Student Art Competition that was open from January 16 until February 23, 2024. Entries were open to any medium of art and categories consisted of Elementary, Middle School and High School students. We had many great entries and the review team was very impressed with the amazing talent demonstrated by our students, which made the competition tough! Our judges reviewed each submission and while all were compelling in their own right, the following entries were identified as winners in their categories. Congratulations to all our winners!
Elementary School Division
First Place: W.H., Purchase Youth Village, Marshall Co., “A Rat’s Life”
Second Place: A.B., Purchase Youth Village, Marshall Co., “Untitled”
Third Place: N.P., Purchase Youth Village, Marshall Co., “My Asteroid”
Middle School Division
First Place: A.H., Heartland Youth Village, Nelson Co., “Pink Meanies”
Second Place: C.W., Purchase Youth Village, Marshall Co., “Masquerade”
Third Place: E.F., Gateway Children’s Services, Montgomery Co., “Jumping to the Moon”
High School Division
First Place: M.S., Heartland Youth Village, Nelson Co., “Sun & Moon”
Second Place: M.H., Purchase Youth Village, Marshall Co., “Overcoming Great Obstacles, Meaning of a Coi Fish”
Third Place: K.M., Purchase Youth Village, Marshall Co., “Still Growing”
Honorable Mention: J., Otter Creek, Wayne Co., “Side Effects”
Honorable Mention: E.R., Warren Co. Day Treatment, Warren Co., “Martin Luther King”
KECSAC Executive Director Delivers Keynote Speech at KSBA Conference
During the second quarter, Executive Director Ronnie Nolan was invited by the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) to deliver a keynote speech at their annual Winter Symposium held on December 8-9, 2023. Dr. Nolan spoke about serving state agency children and the importance of trauma-informed care with that population of students. He also held a breakout session that went more in-depth into state agency programs and trauma-informed care. The symposium focused on showcasing state agencies that partner closely with school districts. School board members and administrators from approximately 90 districts took part in the two-day event highlighted by 32 sessions and 30 trade show exhibitors. The symposium also played host to regular meetings of the state’s Local School Board Member Advisory Council and the association’s board members.
Dr. Ronnie Nolan delivered the keynote speech at KSBA’s Winter Symposium on December 8, 2023.
Achievements & Updates
State Agency Children School Administrator’s Association 2023/2024 School Year
SACSAA’s Annual Fall Statewide meeting was held in person on September 8, 2023 at the Marriott Louisville East, with 71 attendees. The meeting and training opened with a welcome from Dr. Nolan and SACSAA President Heather Moss who recognized all the new administrators. Then SACSAA President-Elect Jeremy Camron gave an update on the group’s KASA affiliation as the representative for the group. KECSAC updates were shared with the group including budget information and upcoming professional development opportunities. Program Improvement updates were discussed lead by KECSAC Program Improvement Specialists Angela Austin and Peggy Shearer. A networking lunch was also held to allow administrators to talk with each other and connect regarding their programs and any issues or advice they might want to discuss with each other. Keith McGill from Shakespeare Behind/Beyond Bars was also invited to talk to the group about the benefits of their programming. The training ended with Lori Barton from Corbin Independent Schools discussing IDEA Monitoring in KECSAC programs. Administrators were able to earn 5 EILA hours for attending.
During the third quarter the Annual Spring SACSAA Virtual meeting was held on March 1, 2024 in order to meet MOA requirements and keep school administrators informed of state agency children news. Dr. Nolan and SACSAA President Heather Moss presented SACSAA updates and KECSAC news, including current legislative updates affecting KECSAC programs, and budget information. The group’s representative with Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA), Jeremy Camron, provided updates from KASA’s past meetings and relevant news. Networking time was included for open discussion and the Special Allocation of Targeted Funds awards for 2024 were announced. Administrators earned three EILA hours for participating.
Interagency Advisory Group (IAG) & KECSAC Annual Work Retreat
Each year the KECSAC Interagency Advisory Group meets five times to discuss important issues pertaining to KECSAC programs and offer guidance for KECSAC procedures and initiatives. Each meeting is detailed in the KECSAC quarterly reports, and since the third quarter report was published, the IAG met for their fourth meeting on April 23-24, 2024 in the form of a study tour of programs in Western KY. Members were able to visit Heartland Youth Village, in Bardstown, KY, Warren County Day Treatment in Bowling Green, KY, Cumberland Hall School in Hopkinsville, KY, and Ohio County Day Treatment in Hartford, KY. Overall, the IAG was able to visit two DCBS-contracted programs and two DJJ programs, which offered a more in-depth knowledge of how different types of alternative programs operate and serve children. These programs were specifically chosen because they are located in the western region of the state and during regular meetings time restraints prevent the group from visiting programs further away from central Kentucky. Each of the programs answered questions and presented to the group about their population and how they operate. The group also got to tour the programs and witness how varied our programs can be and how the education components of these programs adapt and take advantage of those differences. All the IAG members who attended the tour were excited to visit several different programs at once and appreciated the chance to visit programs many had never seen before. KECSAC would like to thank all the school administrators who helped us facilitate these visits and took time out of their busy schedules to answer questions and host our group.
The final meeting of the year and the annual IAG retreat was also held on June 5-6, 2024 at Natural Bridge State Park. During this meeting the IAG discussed routine end-of-year business such as the work plan overview, census data review, budget updates and policy updates for KECSAC as well as partnering agencies. The group also had a very productive facilitated discussion about issues surrounding behavioral management in programs. The SACSAA and Student of the Year Award nominations for 2023 were also reviewed and voted on by the group, which you can read more about on pages 6-7 of this report. This meeting helps the IAG feel recharged and ready to tackle new challenges together for the next year.
