Leave Behind FOLD OVER3.indd
How We Do It
The Prichard Committee focuses on priority areas through the following initiatives: MONITORING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Top 20 by 2020 Kentucky has made important progress toward reaching the nation’s top tier of states on several indicators of education performance, but is flat or losing ground on others. The result: clear evidence that the state needs to work harder to deliver for its children and future. We document those findings in our regular reports, “Achieving the Top 20 by 2020,” which measure the state’s performance on 20 indicators of academic achievement and define what is needed to propel the state to the top of the nation.
EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Strong Start Kentucky: Quality Pre-K for Every Child Recognizing the need for widespread public support to promote high-quality preschool and elevating its importance as a public policy issue, the Prichard Committee created the Business Leadership Council for Pre-K. The Committee convenes the Council as part of the broader Strong Start Kentucky campaign which also coordinates a diverse array of more than 100 early childhood advocates around preschool planning and policy issues.
PROPELLING ACADEMIC RIGOR ReadyKentucky With support from local and national foundations, the Committee is building public will on behalf of better schools. This engagement work conducts comprehensive outreach efforts to prepare teachers, parents and business and civic leaders to become activist supporters of the newer, tougher standards that are the reality in today's Kentucky classrooms.
ADVANCING QUALITY TEACHING Math and Literacy Teaching Initiative The Prichard Committee is ensuring that teachers in twelve Kentucky school districts are among the first in the nation to explore new ways to teach math and literacy. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Committee is facilitating early work with new teaching resources that have been developed by national experts to accelerate students’ mastery of these core academic subjects and help them thrive in a global context.
DRIVING PARENT ENGAGEMENT Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership Since 1997, the Prichard Committee has trained more than 1,700 parents to navigate school culture and advocate for student achievement in our nationally-acclaimed Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (CIPL). CIPL’s benefits compound each year as graduates reach out to other parents through school-based projects, return to school to become teachers themselves, join the Prichard Committee as members and serve on state and local school boards and councils.
“The Prichard Committee is the closest thing in existence to the type of knowledgeable and impartial observer needed to watch and report on the progress of education reform.” ~ Business First (Louisville)
Invest in
Kentucky's Students
Our Mission The Prichard Committee provides an independent citizens’ voice advocating for improved education for all Kentuckians.
Who We Are The Prichard Committee is a nonpartisan volunteer organization of approximately 100 Kentuckians representing all parts of the state, supported by a professional staff.
What We Do The Prichard Committee: keeps the public, elected officials and educators informed about leading education issues conducts research and analyzes education issues and recommends improvements speaks out for better education engages citizens, parents, students and educators at the local and state levels in efforts to improve Kentucky’s schools “[The Prichard Committee is] the nation’s premier education advocacy group.” ~ Education Week
271 West Short Street, Suite 202 | Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 233-9849 | (800) 928-2111 [email protected] | www.prichardcommittee.org
BY THE NUMBERS 8 number of news articles in typical month in which Prichard Committee is cited as a source of expertise
16 1980
1995
2008
Government-appointed Committee led by Edward F. Prichard, Jr. studies issues to improve Kentucky higher education.
Prichard Committee accepts Innovations in Government Award from the Ford Foundation and Harvard University on behalf of state.
Committee launches Top 20 by 2020, setting ambitious goal for Kentucky education by 2020 and underscoring Kentucky’s progress.
1981
1997
2009
Committee publishes recommendations for higher education: In Pursuit of Excellence.
Kentucky higher-education reforms incorporate earlier Prichard Committee recommendations.
Kentucky adopts higher learning goals and revised testing and accountability system.
1983
Committee launches Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership to train and support parents as reform advocates.
2010
Committee reorganizes as independent, non-profit advocacy group and expands charge to encompass all levels of public education. Robert F. Sexton hired as executive director.
1984 Committee organizes Statewide Town Forum, attracting more than 20,000 Kentuckians to locations across state to discuss future of education.
1985 Committee publishes Path to a Larger Life, making recommendations for improving elementary and secondary education.
1989 State Supreme Court rules Kentucky education system unconstitutional.
1990 The Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) wins legislative passage, mandating sweeping reforms. In response to KERA, Prichard Committee helps launch Partnership for Kentucky School Reform, mobilizing business leaders to put education research to practical use.
2000 Kentucky early-childhood education reforms enacted with Committee support.
2002 Committee creates Center for Parent Leadership to make leadership programs available nationwide.
2005 Committee publishes Inside the Black Box of HighPerforming, High-Poverty Schools examining how schools defy pattern of low achievement.
2007 Committee publishes Strong Start Kentucky: Investing in Early Care and Education to Ensure Future Success and inaugurates Strong Start Kentucky public campaign and Business Leadership Council to make voluntary quality preschool available for every Kentucky child.
Committee partners with Kentucky Association of School Councils and Council for Better Education to produce Transition Index monitoring school performance during three years between Kentucky’s testing systems. Committee launches ReadyKentucky providing information to parents, teachers and community leaders about new academic standards and other education initiatives. Founding Executive Director Robert F. Sexton dies.
2011 Stu Silberman hired to lead Committee as second executive director.
“It is hard to imagine how education reform as dramatic as Kentucky’s could have been launched, much less sustained over time, without the Prichard Committee’s leadership.” Richard Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education
number of spots Kentucky has moved up among states in education performance, from 49th to 33rd, according to Kentucky index based primarily on test scores and education attainment
5,500 number of students reached by typical class of parents trained by Prichard Committee's Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership
14 Kentucky’s 2012 rank, up from 34 the previous year, in nationally-recognized Quality Counts, which bases its measurement on achievement, reform strategies, finance and indicators of a child’s chance for success
750 number of parents trained by Prichard Committee’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership who serve on school councils and local school boards
$21,329,153 amount Prichard Committee has leveraged from national foundations for education investments in Kentucky
AWARDS Ford Foundation and Harvard University Innovations in Government Award Education Commission of the States’ Frank Newman Award for State Innovation Kentucky Association of School Councils’ Vision Award Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education Governor Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award Southern Innovator in Leadership Development and Civic Engagement Award
The Prichard Committee focuses on priority areas through the following initiatives: MONITORING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Top 20 by 2020 Kentucky has made important progress toward reaching the nation’s top tier of states on several indicators of education performance, but is flat or losing ground on others. The result: clear evidence that the state needs to work harder to deliver for its children and future. We document those findings in our regular reports, “Achieving the Top 20 by 2020,” which measure the state’s performance on 20 indicators of academic achievement and define what is needed to propel the state to the top of the nation.
EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Strong Start Kentucky: Quality Pre-K for Every Child Recognizing the need for widespread public support to promote high-quality preschool and elevating its importance as a public policy issue, the Prichard Committee created the Business Leadership Council for Pre-K. The Committee convenes the Council as part of the broader Strong Start Kentucky campaign which also coordinates a diverse array of more than 100 early childhood advocates around preschool planning and policy issues.
PROPELLING ACADEMIC RIGOR ReadyKentucky With support from local and national foundations, the Committee is building public will on behalf of better schools. This engagement work conducts comprehensive outreach efforts to prepare teachers, parents and business and civic leaders to become activist supporters of the newer, tougher standards that are the reality in today's Kentucky classrooms.
ADVANCING QUALITY TEACHING Math and Literacy Teaching Initiative The Prichard Committee is ensuring that teachers in twelve Kentucky school districts are among the first in the nation to explore new ways to teach math and literacy. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Committee is facilitating early work with new teaching resources that have been developed by national experts to accelerate students’ mastery of these core academic subjects and help them thrive in a global context.
DRIVING PARENT ENGAGEMENT Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership Since 1997, the Prichard Committee has trained more than 1,700 parents to navigate school culture and advocate for student achievement in our nationally-acclaimed Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (CIPL). CIPL’s benefits compound each year as graduates reach out to other parents through school-based projects, return to school to become teachers themselves, join the Prichard Committee as members and serve on state and local school boards and councils.
“The Prichard Committee is the closest thing in existence to the type of knowledgeable and impartial observer needed to watch and report on the progress of education reform.” ~ Business First (Louisville)
Invest in
Kentucky's Students
Our Mission The Prichard Committee provides an independent citizens’ voice advocating for improved education for all Kentuckians.
Who We Are The Prichard Committee is a nonpartisan volunteer organization of approximately 100 Kentuckians representing all parts of the state, supported by a professional staff.
What We Do The Prichard Committee: keeps the public, elected officials and educators informed about leading education issues conducts research and analyzes education issues and recommends improvements speaks out for better education engages citizens, parents, students and educators at the local and state levels in efforts to improve Kentucky’s schools “[The Prichard Committee is] the nation’s premier education advocacy group.” ~ Education Week
271 West Short Street, Suite 202 | Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 233-9849 | (800) 928-2111 [email protected] | www.prichardcommittee.org
BY THE NUMBERS 8 number of news articles in typical month in which Prichard Committee is cited as a source of expertise
16 1980
1995
2008
Government-appointed Committee led by Edward F. Prichard, Jr. studies issues to improve Kentucky higher education.
Prichard Committee accepts Innovations in Government Award from the Ford Foundation and Harvard University on behalf of state.
Committee launches Top 20 by 2020, setting ambitious goal for Kentucky education by 2020 and underscoring Kentucky’s progress.
1981
1997
2009
Committee publishes recommendations for higher education: In Pursuit of Excellence.
Kentucky higher-education reforms incorporate earlier Prichard Committee recommendations.
Kentucky adopts higher learning goals and revised testing and accountability system.
1983
Committee launches Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership to train and support parents as reform advocates.
2010
Committee reorganizes as independent, non-profit advocacy group and expands charge to encompass all levels of public education. Robert F. Sexton hired as executive director.
1984 Committee organizes Statewide Town Forum, attracting more than 20,000 Kentuckians to locations across state to discuss future of education.
1985 Committee publishes Path to a Larger Life, making recommendations for improving elementary and secondary education.
1989 State Supreme Court rules Kentucky education system unconstitutional.
1990 The Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) wins legislative passage, mandating sweeping reforms. In response to KERA, Prichard Committee helps launch Partnership for Kentucky School Reform, mobilizing business leaders to put education research to practical use.
2000 Kentucky early-childhood education reforms enacted with Committee support.
2002 Committee creates Center for Parent Leadership to make leadership programs available nationwide.
2005 Committee publishes Inside the Black Box of HighPerforming, High-Poverty Schools examining how schools defy pattern of low achievement.
2007 Committee publishes Strong Start Kentucky: Investing in Early Care and Education to Ensure Future Success and inaugurates Strong Start Kentucky public campaign and Business Leadership Council to make voluntary quality preschool available for every Kentucky child.
Committee partners with Kentucky Association of School Councils and Council for Better Education to produce Transition Index monitoring school performance during three years between Kentucky’s testing systems. Committee launches ReadyKentucky providing information to parents, teachers and community leaders about new academic standards and other education initiatives. Founding Executive Director Robert F. Sexton dies.
2011 Stu Silberman hired to lead Committee as second executive director.
“It is hard to imagine how education reform as dramatic as Kentucky’s could have been launched, much less sustained over time, without the Prichard Committee’s leadership.” Richard Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education
number of spots Kentucky has moved up among states in education performance, from 49th to 33rd, according to Kentucky index based primarily on test scores and education attainment
5,500 number of students reached by typical class of parents trained by Prichard Committee's Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership
14 Kentucky’s 2012 rank, up from 34 the previous year, in nationally-recognized Quality Counts, which bases its measurement on achievement, reform strategies, finance and indicators of a child’s chance for success
750 number of parents trained by Prichard Committee’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership who serve on school councils and local school boards
$21,329,153 amount Prichard Committee has leveraged from national foundations for education investments in Kentucky
AWARDS Ford Foundation and Harvard University Innovations in Government Award Education Commission of the States’ Frank Newman Award for State Innovation Kentucky Association of School Councils’ Vision Award Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education Governor Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award Southern Innovator in Leadership Development and Civic Engagement Award
