Both Governor Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear made a lot of claims as they went head to head at a forum with the Kentucky Farm Bureau on Wednesday.
Education is always a hot and sometimes controversial topic, especially for Gov. Bevin. In his comments at the forum, Bevin was adamant the state isn't doing enough for all students and he pointed to JCPS in particular.
More than once, Bevin repeated a claim about the literacy rate of African-American students within the district.
"We're standing right now in a county where 70 percent of black children cannot read at grade level," he said. "7-0 percent. Don't tell me we're serving these kids well. We're failing them. It's an abject failure."
So is Gov. Bevin correct in his claim?
Gov Bevin's staff tells me the percentage comes from state testing records.
The Kentucky Department of Education said that is accurate.
It's according to state testing records labeled "Accountable Assessment Performance: Reading." The reading scores are from the 2017-2018 K-PREP reading test scores. Although it's important to note the data is for elementary and middle school students.
According to the data, 71.7 percent of African-American elementary students scored below proficient in reading. That compares to 39.1 percent of white students in JCPS that scored below proficient in reading.
JCPS also confirmed the numbers, but it said when it comes to Measured Academic Progress testing, 50 percent of African-American students are reaching growth benchmarks in reading.
"We have our Racial Equity Plan that aims to reduce the achievement gap and ensure all students are engaged in meaningful learning opportunities," JCPS Spokeswoman Renee Murphy said. "We believe our MAP data shows we are on the right path and we are seeing student success."
Gov. Bevin on the other hand sees a major issue with the reading level.
"We want every single kid to have a shot at the American dream here in Kentucky, and that includes the 70 percent of black kids in this community who cannot read at grade level. That is immoral. It is repugnant to me. And anyone who would defend that as being something we should continue to replicate, that somehow were doing a good job, that we are doing a good job, nonsense."
Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis issued a statement in response:
“The most pressing statistic is the apprentice percentage, which is one notch above the novice level, meaning students show little to no understanding at their grade level," he said. "I’m really encouraged by Dr. Pollio’s leadership and the steps the district is taking to implement the corrective action plan. Improving learning for all kids will require a long and sustained effort.”
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