Fayette schools last to apply for KY home-learning program. 10 or more make-up days forgiven.

Lexington’s public school district on Wednesday became the last of Kentucky’s 172 districts to apply for the state’s non-traditional education program during the coronavirus school shutdown.

Fayette County Public Schools applied and was tentatively approved for NTI on Wednesday morning as the Kentucky Board of Education discussed the program in which state officials approve a district’s home learning plans and allow the district not to make up days at the end of the school year. The state board held a special virtual meeting.

Gov. Andy Beshear asked that all public school districts in Kentucky close this week to curb the spread of COVID-19. Fayette County Schools won’t open until at least April 6 or later.

“As of now, you are approved to use up to 10 NTI days,” Kentucky Department of Education officials wrote to Superintendent Manny Caulk Wednesday. “The Governor and Commissioner (Kevin) Brown have committed to at least 10 additional days or possibly more based on legislative action.”

Fayette’s emergency application has been approved by the Kentucky Department of Education pending local school board approval, said department spokeswoman Toni Konz Tatman.

The NTI program creates instruction for every student and ensures that teachers and students interact.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, 83 districts were in the NTI program, generally using it for bad weather days or in cases of widespread student illness. The remaining districts have applied on an emergency basis in the last several days.

Fayette County this week gave students home lessons to work on in both paper packets and online, but had declined to join the NTI program for several years.

District officials previously said it might not be adequate for students who didn’t have technology in their homes or who had special learning needs.

They expressed concerns about students who counted on schools for meals and other basic needs.

Fayette officials didn’t immediately comment Wednesday on the NTI application.

However, over the weekend Caulk conceded that “it would be educational malfeasance for FCPS not to develop contingency plans for the use of NTI for future missed days, knowing that students in the districts around us will be engaged in remote learning.”

To provide meals, the district is allowing families to pick up breakfast and lunch for children at points across the county so they don’t have to congregate while being fed.

Fayette schools will get extra help in the NTI program as teachers, staff and families work together.

Brown said he has convened a state task force of educators that will start meeting virtually Monday and every week during the crisis to address new issues about non-traditional instruction and give school districts resources.

This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 1:14 PM.