With SB 1, Kentucky will move backward on parent involvement in schools, curriculum

As parents are gaining involvement in curriculum and school issues in other states, Kentucky is on the verge of taking a step backward by limiting parent and teacher input.

Ironically, Kentucky has been a leader in providing a meaningful role for parent voice and involvement since 1990. In response to the landmark case of Rose v. Council for Better Education in 1989, an overhaul of our education system decentralized decision-making authority. Parents gained a new way to contribute at the school level, teachers attained expanded leadership roles, and principals acquired authority to address the needs of their schools.

It’s explained clearly in state law: “The General Assembly recognizes that public education involves shared responsibilities. State government, local communities, parents, students, and school employees must work together to create an efficient public school system. … The cooperation of all involved is necessary to assure that desired outcomes are achieved.” (KRS 158.645)

The fate of parent voice and leadership roles for teachers is now before the Kentucky House. State representatives face an important decision after the Senate quickly passed SB 1 last month to strip Kentucky school councils of their role in deciding school curriculum issues and working alongside superintendents to fill principal vacancies.

School councils work by providing thoughtful consideration, data-driven discussion, and decisions reached by consensus. They create a forum where voices can be heard and solutions tailored to truly address local needs.

At a moment when divisiveness in politics is a major concern, Kentucky already possesses an important level of school governance where people come together to listen and lead by finding common ground and sensible solutions.

Why would we want to weaken the voice and input of 2,346 parents who currently serve on school councils? This system provides 474 minority parents a formal role in considering the best way forward for their community’s schools. How can diminishing these voices be a step forward?

In 1994, the state Supreme Court found that school boards and school councils — as well as the state education department— play complementary roles in building strong schools. The state sets standards and goals and provides funding. School boards create districtwide achievement priorities and lead on important personnel, taxation, funding, property, compensation issues, and more. School councils address school-level issues of curriculum, instructional practices, discipline, and staff composition.

Under the shared governance model, Kentucky schools have moved from the bottom of national rankings of student achievement to near the national average. Expanded involvement and greater leadership opportunities for parents, teachers, and even students have helped. As stronger and smarter units, schools have worked in partnership with district officials and school boards to move Kentucky forward.

If anything, our state needs to build up its system of involvement, not chip away.

Councils are a way to get everyone on the same team. In states where curriculum controversies or education issues are making headlines, parents feel shut out. In these communities, school boards and superintendents are on the defensive because it seems the few at the top make decisions without enough regard for those who experience the system.

Educators now face challenging work to rebound from a pandemic that has widened achievement gaps, magnified family needs, and increased stress levels. We face growing teacher shortages and support staff stretched too thin. Now is the time to bring more hands and minds to the table.

We encourage the House to oppose SB1 and to support parent involvement, promote family engagement, back leadership roles for teachers and principals, and assure that students at every school have informed and empowered adults working together for common-sense solutions.

Ronda Harmon is executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Councils, a nonprofit group based in Danville. She has been on SBDM councils as both a parent and a teacher representative. Across Kentucky, over 7,000 teachers, parents, and principals serve on local SBDM councils.

This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 11:37 AM.