STATEMENT RELEASE
RAWLINGS, WILLIAMS RECOGNIZE BOONE COUNTY STUDENTS’ RESULTS IN ELEMENTARY MATH AND HIGH SCHOOL WRITING
Results exceeded statewide proficiency percentages
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2026) – Sens. Gex Williams, R-Verona, and Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, issued the following joint statement recognizing Boone County Schools’ and Walton-Verona Independent Schools’ elementary mathematics and high school combined writing results in Kentucky’s newly released 2025-26 assessments.
“Students need to solve problems using critical analysis and reasoning. Boone County Schools’ and Walton-Verona Independent Schools’ results in elementary math and high school writing show us accomplishments we can celebrate.
“We helped pass legislation that emphasizes high academic expectations and independent thinking because students carry those abilities into every part of their lives. We thank the teachers who help students build those skills and congratulate the students who earned this recognition.
“The Kentucky General Assembly has championed stronger reading instruction through Read to Succeed. The legislature has also enacted the Numeracy Counts Act to bring that same focus to early math instruction.
“Kentucky’s reading gains encourage us. As schools put the new math screening and intervention requirements to work this school year, we want to build on that progress and help more children succeed in essential life skills.”
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BACKGROUND
The Kentucky Department of Education’s 2025-26 assessment results show reading gains across elementary, middle and high schools, while mathematics performance remained flat or declined slightly. Full state, district and school results are available through the Kentucky School Report Card.
Boone County Schools reported 54 percent of elementary students scoring proficient or distinguished in mathematics, compared with 43 percent statewide. At the high school level, 47 percent scored proficient or distinguished in combined writing, compared with 45 percent statewide.
Walton-Verona Independent Schools reported 53 percent of elementary students scoring proficient or distinguished in mathematics. At the high school level, 66 percent scored proficient or distinguished in combined writing.
Both school districts exceeded statewide proficient/distinguished percentages in reading, mathematics, science, social studies and combined writing at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Rawlings sponsored Senate Bill 68, which became law in 2025, to address academic expectations, critical and independent thinking and other education requirements. Williams co-sponsored the legislation. Rawlings voted for the 2024 Numeracy Counts Act while serving in the state House of Representatives, and Williams voted for the measure in the Senate. The law requires schools to begin its K-3 mathematics screening and intervention cycle in 2026-27, after the school year covered by these assessment results.
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Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, represents the 11th Senate District in northern and central Boone County. He serves as co-chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education and also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Appropriations and Revenue; Banking and Insurance; Education; Health Services; Local Government; and State Government. Additionally, he is a member of the Capital Planning Advisory Board and the 2026–2028 Budget Preparation and Submission Statutory Committee.
For a high-resolution .jpeg file of Rawlings, please visit:
https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate111.jpg
Sen. Gex “Jay” Williams, R-Verona, represents the 20th Senate District, which encompasses Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, and Owen Counties, southern Boone County, and southwestern Kenton County. Williams serves as vice chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee and co-chair of the Investments in Information Technology Oversight Statutory Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Education, Families and Children, and Transportation Committees. During the 2025 Interim, he served on the Artificial Intelligence Task Force.
Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate120.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Williams.