State education officials presented proposed amendments to Kentucky's assessment and accountability regulation to school district superintendents during a July 28 meeting of the Kentucky Department of Education's Local Superintendents Advisory Council, according to a report from Kentucky Teacher.

The proposed revisions to administrative regulation 703 KAR 5:270 stem from House Bill 257, which Governor Andy Beshear signed in April 2026 and represents a significant overhaul of the state's K-12 accountability system. The KDE Office of Assessment and Accountability, represented by Associate Commissioner Jennifer Stafford and Policy Advisor Jennifer Larkins, walked council members through the proposed changes.

The most significant change shifts Kentucky away from comparing year-to-year changes in accountability indicators toward measuring individual student growth in reading and mathematics. This approach gives districts greater flexibility to work with their communities to establish school priorities while ensuring all students have access to rich learning experiences.

The proposed amendments also address changes to technology standards. The KDE Office of Education Technology presented a revised version of the Kentucky Academic Standards for Technology that incorporates grade bands spanning kindergarten through grade 12, allowing students to demonstrate technology competencies throughout their education rather than waiting until high school. The standards were last revised in 2020.

The Local Superintendents Advisory Council is mandated by state law to advise the state's chief school officer and the Kentucky Board of Education on the development of administrative regulations and education policy. Council meetings typically occur before regular board meetings.