HIGDON VISITS WITH GLASSCOCK ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
IN LEBANON, PARTICIPATES IN SUMMER BOOST PROGRAM
FRANKFORT, KY (June 7, 2024)— Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, joined Interim Education Commissioner Robin Kinney at Glasscock Elementary School on Friday as part of the Summer Boost Program.
The program emphasizes reading and mathematics, aiming to mitigate summer learning loss and engage families in their children’s education. It is a collaboration between the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and local initiatives. The program distributes free educational resources and meals. Twenty-nine Kentucky school districts are benefiting from the program this year.
Higdon’s visit included reading sessions and discussions with students.
“I always enjoy visiting with the future leaders of Kentucky and am impressed by the good work being done in classrooms and school districts,” Higdon said. “We have a lot of dedicated educators working to make sure these kids succeed, and in the Kentucky General Assembly, we are doing what we can to support that main goal.”
Higdon noted the Read to Succeed Act, sponsored by Senate Education chair Steve West, R-Paris, and passed during the 2022 Legislative Session. The bill, Senate Bill (SB) 9, addresses the critical impact of early childhood education on an individual’s future success by investing in early literacy. It was developed through a collaborative effort involving the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), the Kentucky Chamber, and various stakeholders.
“SB 9 has been implemented now and is focused on improving literacy outcomes for students K-3, like here at Glasscock Elementary,” Higdon said. “This Summer Boost Program that KDE has put in place builds on that effort and emphasizes mathematics. It’s giving these students and the teachers who invest time and energy into their future more time to catch up, stay on track, or even get ahead before their next school year.
During the recently concluded 2024 Legislative Session, Higdon and the Kentucky General Assembly implemented similar efforts to improve mathematical proficiency.
House Bill 162, sponsored by Representative James Allen Tipton, is the mathematics equivalent to the Read to Succeed Act. It provides a multi-tiered support system to help all students apply mathematical content and practice proficiently. From kindergarten through grade three, HB 162 mandates universal screeners and diagnostics to identify and support at-risk students, ensuring they receive the help they need to succeed in mathematics.
“I want to commend my colleagues, Sen. West and Rep. Tipton, for being real champions of these efforts,” Higdon said. “Many of us in the legislature have expressed our desire to get back to the basics of learning and doing what we can to improve outcomes in reading, writing, and math, so I applaud KDE for this initiative. We support it.”
Higdon and Kinney’s visit and the program support and promote educational initiatives, providing students with enriching experiences that contribute to their learning during the summer break. It also allows community leaders such as Higdon to engage directly with educational programs and witness their impact on the community.
“A child’s ability to read is a critical predictor of both lifelong and educational success,” Kinney said. “This partnership between the Kentucky Department of Education, the Summer Food Service Program and the Children’s Reading Foundation will allow Kentucky to raise the bar in literacy and mathematics education. We need to continue working together to give students more opportunities to gain and strengthen these skills, and ensure our educators are equipped and empowered with the skills and resources they need to best support their students.”
Counties participating in the Summer Boost Program include Adair, Bourbon, Bowling Green Independent, Bullitt, Butler, Calloway, Carter, Clark, Erlanger-Elsmere Independent, Fairview Independent, Franklin, Grant, Henderson, Henry, Jackson Independent, Jefferson, Lincoln, Livingston, Marion, McCracken, Meade, Menifee, Middlesboro Independent, Oldham, Owsley, Taylor, Trimble, Wayne and Webster.
For more information about the Summer Boost Program, please visit THIS LINK.
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Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, including Larue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. Higdon serves as Senate Transportation Committee chair. Higdon is also the Public Pension Oversight Board co-chair. He serves as an Education, Licensing and Occupations and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection committee member. Higdon previously served as a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee member, which was restructured as a part of the new Senate Health Services Committee.
Visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate114.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Higdon.
