The Kentucky Department of Education has launched a new webinar series called Lunch and Learn: Local Leadership, A Midday Exchange to help district leaders develop local accountability systems aligned with the state's reimagined approach to school assessment.

The series centers on the United We Learn initiative, which KDE officially launched in 2022 as the agency's vision for Kentucky public education. The initiative emphasizes vibrant learning for every student, innovation in assessment and deep collaboration with local communities.

Each Lunch and Learn session features district leaders sharing their experiences developing local accountability models, with representatives from other districts able to ask questions about implementing vibrant learning experiences in their communities. One session included a leader from Danville who discussed how educational co-ops receiving deeper learning grant funding in 2022 allowed the district to advance its work on competencies students are expected to exhibit before graduation.

The webinar series is part of KDE's broader effort to shift school accountability "away from labeling and compliance and toward a system built on local innovation, shared ownership, and vibrant learning experiences," according to the department's framework documents. The transformation follows a 2020 statewide survey, a 2021 listening tour, and work by the Kentucky United We Learn Council, a diverse group of families, students, educators, legislators, business leaders and community members.

House Bill 257, passed during the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly session, supports this effort by providing districts flexibility to work more closely with their communities to establish priorities for schools and help ensure all students have access to vibrant learning experiences. KDE and the Kentucky Board of Education are currently working to develop administrative regulations implementing the legislation, with changes to Kentucky's accountability system set for data reporting in fall 2027.