KDE Salutes Sandersville Elementary for Best Practices

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) recognized nine schools and districts for best practices during the 2023 Continuous Improvement Summit, including Sandersville Elementary for its standards-based grading system.

One of the most critical pieces in the learning process is to create clarity around exactly what students are learning and how they are performing. Sandersville uses a more accurate system for grades and report cards by focusing on the Kentucky Academic Standards. "It helps our students know where they are going and how to get there. It has been a beneficial shift for our school community and one I would encourage all schools to consider," said Sandersville Principal Matt Marsh. 

Associate Education Commissioner Kelly Foster presented each Best Practice winner with a $500 check that can be used toward school improvement.

• Best Practices Spotlight

More than 900 educators from across the state attended the Sept. 25-26 conference at the Central Bank Center. The summit provided an opportunity to invest in their own growth as a leader and a teacher, and it offered strategies to make a difference in their work and in their students’ experiences.

In 2013, KDE launched its Best Practices and Sustainability website, which serves as a clearinghouse to promote practices that motivate, engage, and provide measurable results in student learning, achievement, and school/district processes.