KY education commissioner, superintendents asking for more at-home learning days

Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher plans to ask lawmakers for more non-traditional instruction, or at-home learning days, beyond the 10 allowed now.

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said Monday he is discussing the issue with superintendents to understand the problem.

“We understand the situation and will take it under consideration, if necessary. However, it goes without saying that students learn best in the classroom, where teachers have the best ability to reach them,” said House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect.

Fletcher made his strategy known in a recent webcast to school superintendents.

In addition to the early January winter storms that dumped several inches of snow and ice on Kentucky, Fletcher noted some districts used NTI days when a search for a shooting suspect impacted areas of the region around I-75.

Others used the days during hurricane-related weather and some for threats of gun violence.

“Superintendents have reached out to me. I’ve also reached out to legislators and we’ve talked a little bit about the potential for adding NTI days,” Fletcher said in his Jan. 14 conversation.

“I am promoting an additional five days for districts at this point in order to help out all the issues that we’ve had.”

Because the 10-day limit is state law, lawmakers would have to agree to add more days, Kentucky Schools Boards Associations officials said. Lawmakers do not return to Frankfort until Feb. 4. Fletcher urged superintendents to reach out to them with their concerns.

Fletcher said lawmakers have been receptive to the proposal, but no decisions have been made.

Frank Shelton, a spokesperson for Knox County Schools, said Monday that his district had used all its NTI days.

Just before 8 p.m. Monday, Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said about Tuesday, “Tomorrow will be a normal school schedule for FCPS.”

Wolfe County School officials in a Facebook post said Tuesday would be its 10th NTI day. Menifee County Schools is using its sixth and seventh NTI days on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Facebook post said.

Clark County Schools, the district that adjoins Fayette County, called off in-person classes Tuesday and will have its fourth NTI day of the school year.

Bourbon County Schools, another district that adjoins Fayette, will have a traditional snow day.

Kentucky School Boards Association officials said in a Jan. 16 post the January snowstorms have caused many districts to use multiple non-traditional instruction days and snow days to start the new year. That’s left many districts at or near the state-mandated limit of 10 NTI days per year.

Kentucky School Boards Association officials said the Rowan, Estill, Lawrence, Lee and Johnson school districts are among those that had used a high number of NTI days.

Knox County used three NTI days within the first month of school due to the suspect safety situation impacting areas of the region around I-75 south, Shelton said

“On Sept. 27 and Nov. 22, we had NTI days #4 and #5,” he said.

“In a typical school year looking back the last five, we have not had much use of school cancellations nor NTI days prior to our Winter Break/Christmas Break,” Shelton said.

“As of our break this year, we had a total of seven NTI days used and three cancellation days,” he added. “Upon our original date to return from winter break, Jan. 6, inclement weather was awaiting and we experienced NTI days 8-10, with the final NTI day being Jan. 8.

“On Jan. 9, we returned to typical school cancellation days,” Shelton added.

Shelton said his district officials have contacted state Rep. Tom Smith and Stivers on behalf of Knox County and that of surrounding school districts, which were impacted by the search for the suspected shooter in September.

While Knox County used three NTI days during the situation, some districts used from two to five, he said.

“While we always want to have students in our schools, interacting with friends and teachers as they learn, we understand that is not always possible,” Shelton said.

“On days when the weather is particularly severe, staying at home ensures safety and comfort, allowing students to avoid the risks of travel and harsh conditions. The benefit of NTI days is the continuation of learning,” Shelton said.

“We often refer to the ‘summer slide’ as those months when children sometimes forget what was taught in the prior year and come back in the fall needing a quick refresher,” he said.

“The same can be said now, returning from a winter break where the return to school is delayed for over another week.”

Fayette schools

Fayette County Public Schools spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said Monday that four traditional snow days were taken Jan. 7-10 and three NTI days from Jan. 13-15.

On Tuesday, when Fayette County Schools will have a regular schedule, Lexington will see a high of about 18 degrees, the National Weather Service at Lexington said.

This story was originally published January 20, 2025 at 3:36 PM.