# EPSB approves educator certification reforms, hears teacher retention research  
**Published:** 2026-05-01T17:59:39.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/05/epsb-discusses-teacher-retention-educator-certification-recommendations-during-meeting/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/epsb-approves-educator-certification-reforms-hears-teacher-retention-research

[The Education Professional Standards Board approved a series of recommendations for educator certification reforms](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/05/epsb-discusses-teacher-retention-educator-certification-recommendations-during-meeting/) during its April 21 meeting in Frankfort, as board members also heard from GoTeachKY Ambassadors about why teachers choose to remain in the classroom.

[Three teachers participated in the discussion](https://goteachky.com/resources/grow-your-own/goteachky-ambassador-program/), including Tyler Saylor, an English language arts teacher at Harlan High School; Kaitlyn Kelly, a 5th-grade teacher at Coventry Oak Elementary School in Fayette County; and Chrystel Blair, a special education teacher at Hartstern Elementary School in Jefferson County. The ambassadors discussed interviews they conducted as part of this year's GoTeachKY Ambassador project to understand what keeps educators committed to the profession.

The board also signed off on recommendations from [the Education Certification Structure Workgroup](https://www.education.ky.gov/CommOfEd/adv/Documents/Local%20Superintendents%20Advisory%20Council%20(LSAC)/2026January27LSACSummary.pdf), which began work in December 2024. Todd Davis, division director in the Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, presented the workgroup's findings. The group, composed of 32 members including principals, teachers, school counselors, human resource officers, university leaders, state lawmakers and other education stakeholders, analyzed current grade bands and certification structures to determine whether they meet Kentucky school districts' needs.

[The workgroup's recommendations include overlapping grade levels between certification categories](https://www.wmky.org/news/2025-07-11/new-recommendations-could-mean-greater-flexibility-for-kentucky-teachers), which would give teachers more flexibility in their assignments. For example, seventh and eighth grades could be taught by educators holding either middle education or secondary certification. [The EPSB is responsible for establishing standards and requirements for obtaining and maintaining educator certification](https://goteachky.com/epsb/) in the state.

"I think we made these recommendations without lowering the bar," said EPSB Vice Chair CJ Fryer, who commended the workgroup's efforts. "We did commonsense, thoughtful recommendations." Board members highlighted that the proposed changes maintain rigorous standards while addressing practical challenges in Kentucky's current system.

The EPSB also continued reviewing educator preparation programs at universities that train teachers for classrooms. Representatives from Morehead State University and Spalding University presented data on where their graduates teach and outlined next steps to strengthen their programs through new offerings and ongoing collaboration with the EPSB and the Kentucky Department of Education.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/05/epsb-discusses-teacher-retention-educator-certification-recommendations-during-meeting/)
- [GoTeachKY Ambassador Program information](https://goteachky.com/resources/grow-your-own/goteachky-ambassador-program/)
- [Certification Structure Workgroup details](https://www.education.ky.gov/CommOfEd/adv/Documents/Local%20Superintendents%20Advisory%20Council%20(LSAC)/2026January27LSACSummary.pdf)
- [New recommendations could mean greater flexibility for Kentucky teachers](https://www.wmky.org/news/2025-07-11/new-recommendations-could-mean-greater-flexibility-for-kentucky-teachers)
- [Education Professional Standards Board official duties](https://goteachky.com/epsb/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Teacher, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/05/epsb-discusses-teacher-retention-educator-certification-recommendations-during-meeting/.