Frequently Asked Questions
How were the signatories of this commitment chosen?
Mayor Abramson established the Mayor's Education Roundtable in November of 2008 to discuss how we could work across sectors on common education goals. At a retreat in the summer of 2009, the members committed to work together on the common goal of increased education attainment and to develop a plan to achieve it. These same members, representing the major public and private education institutions in the region, along with business, civic and community leaders, will be the signatories.
Are the 40,000 degrees to be obtained in Jefferson County or is that a regional goal?
The 40,000 additional degrees is a Jefferson County target. We chose that boundary because it is the easiest to measure and connect to specific strategies. The effort, however, is regional, and as the collaborative grows, we will look for ways to set regional goals, either county by county or for the entire MSA.
Is the 40,000 number realistic? What happens if it is not achieved by 2020?
Every1Reads showed the power of an aspirational goal. When a community focuses on a bold common goal, disparate efforts are aligned to leverage great benefit. Louisville must accelerate progress to remain competitive and secure our great quality of life.
Louisville's competitive city ranking for African-American education attainment is at the bottom of rankings. Will this effort focus on changing those odds?
A group of African-American leaders, from institutions such as Simmons College and the Urban League, have called on the community to raise expectations and eliminate barriers for minority attainment, and are developing strategies to address this.
Does this duplicate or conflict with state-level activities (mandated by SB1) to align K-12 and higher education systems and create college-ready standards and assessments?
This effort is consistent with the goals of both KY and IN to increase educational attainment. Both Commissioner Holliday and CPE President King have spoken to the MER at previous meetings, and state and local staff are coordinating efforts to link sectors in common purpose.
Where will the resources come from?
Local foundations and businesses supported the retreat and plan development, have been included in this planning process and have encouraged grant applications for future work. Also, the collaborative has attracted national resources that are being used to gain technical assistance. The signatories are also contributing staff resources and leadership.