Three things matter most this week. The Jefferson County Board of Education meets Tuesday, October 13, at 6 p.m. Eastern and will hear the first fall iReady numbers for kindergarten through eighth grade. Elementary and middle grading periods end that same day on the district calendar. And on Thursday, October 15, Kentucky publicly releases the 2025 to 2026 state test and accountability results.
Students are in class Monday, October 12, through Friday, October 16.
Tuesday: the school board meets
When: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6 p.m. Eastern
Where: Stewart Auditorium, VanHoose Education Center, 3332 Newburg Road, Louisville
Watch: The meeting page says members of the public may attend in person or watch the live stream, and that meetings are streamed and archived on the district YouTube channel, JCBE Meeting Videos.
The public board calendar also lists a special meeting labeled executive session at 5 p.m. Eastern that day at VanHoose. No other board or committee meeting is posted for October 11 to 17.
The fall iReady report
Information item IX.B, "Quarterly Benchmark Updates from Academics," is a report, not a vote. The recommendation is that the board receive a Quarterly Student Outcomes Report. Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Nathan Balasubramanian are listed with other district leaders.
The figures below come from the presentation posted with item IX.B for the October 13 meeting. The board has not discussed them in public yet. The presentation shows fall baseline results for kindergarten through eighth grade:
Reading: 23.3% of students (14,083) scored early on grade level or above. Another 35.7% scored one grade level below.
Math: 14.4% (8,625) scored early on grade level or above. Another 43.4% scored one grade level below.
Reading, early on grade level or above, by group: African American students 14.2%, Hispanic students 13.3%, white students 35.8%, multilingual learners 5.3%, and students in Exceptional Child Education (ECE) 7.9%.
Math, same measure: African American students 5.8% and multilingual learners 2.8%.
Read the early grades with care. The district notes that in the fall, "on grade level" should be read in the context of the time of year, because students who finished last year's grade level are ready to begin this year's work. In kindergarten, 83.1% scored one grade level below in reading. The presentation calls this baseline data and says progress will be measured in winter and spring.
The presentation also says Internal Audit now ranks student achievement as one of the district's top five risks. The district's listed next steps include a specific plan at every school for students two or more grade levels behind, starting with Enhanced Support Schools, monthly chronic absence and in school removal data for the board, a January report on growth by region, and a revision of Curriculum Policy 08.1 coming for first reading in November 2026.
Your child's own iReady results are a separate report. If your child tested two or more grade levels behind, ask the school what the plan is. JCPS Insider's iReady explainer covers what the test is.
Consent items worth knowing
These are recommendations. None has been voted on. Consent items can pass together unless a board member pulls one for a separate vote.
Employee social media and school resource officer policies (X.U). A second reading of 02.31, School Resource Officers, and 03.1XY and 03.2XY, Employee Use of Social Media for certified and classified staff. The board accepted them on first reading September 22. The superintendent recommends adoption.
State school resource officer money (X.Q.3). A recommendation to accept $2,880,000 from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE): $1,440,000 for each of 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027, at $20,000 per officer each year. This is a separate line from the policy.
Budget additions (X.P). New allocations after the working budget, including Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSC) funding and a budget forecasting contract.
Showcase of Schools lease. A recommendation to approve the lease for the October 24 Showcase at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
Can you speak?
The meeting page sets rules for "Persons Requesting to Address the Board on Action Items or Consent Calendar Items to be Voted Upon Separately at Board Member Request." Each speaker gets three minutes and may not share time. A bell sounds once at two and a half minutes and twice at three. No props or displays. Handouts may go to the assistant secretary to the board. The page does not give a signup method or deadline. Check it before Tuesday if you want to speak.
Follow up: the audit hearing in Frankfort
On October 6, State Auditor Allison Ball presented the JCPS special examination to the Interim Joint Committee on Education, and Dr. Yearwood presented the district's corrective action plan. Spectrum News reported the district said 32 of 192 recommendations are fully implemented, 99 partially, and 52 in early stages, with nine more handled through what the district called "alternative actions," and that the $188 million shortfall has been reduced to $51 million. Yearwood said a five year strategic plan is due in December. The hearing did not include a vote.
Thursday: Kentucky test results go public
KDE's September 30 notice confirms public release of 2025 to 2026 assessment and accountability data on Thursday, October 15, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern. Districts get the data under embargo October 13, and it may not be shared in public meetings before release. So do not expect state scores at Tuesday's board meeting.
This is the state School Report Card, not your child's report card. JCPS Insider's guide to JCPS tests explains how state tests and benchmarks differ.
Dates to know
October 12 to 23: Gifted General Intellect Testing on the 2026 to 2027 parent calendar. The calendar does not say how students are chosen. Ask your school.
October 13: End of the elementary and middle grading period on the parent calendar. Report cards are listed for October 22. The calendar says Parent Portal is turned off at the end of each grading period until report cards go out, and that many schools use different schedules. If you cannot log in, see the Parent Portal lockout guide.
Looking ahead
Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Showcase of Schools at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. The district announcement says admission and parking are free.
November 2 to December 18: School choice applications for 2027 to 2028, according to the student assignment page. Applications are not first come, first served.
Did we miss something? Send tips about meetings, deadlines, and district notices through the contact page.
JCPS Insider is an independent parent resource and is not affiliated with Jefferson County Public Schools.