During its scheduled meeting today, the Kentucky Board of Education acted on a proposal that only surfaced a few days ago, adding a four-year extension to Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday’s contract as the state’s chief state school officer.

Holliday, who came to Kentucky while the board was still populated by a number of Fletcher-era appointees, has proved to be by far the most data-savvy, data-guided commissioner since KERA was enacted in 1990. He is shepherding the implementation of a completely new state assessment program that promises to hold students to higher, college and career oriented education standards. His contract extension by what now are all Beshear appointees on the state board of education offers testimony to Holliday’s ability to work well with people who have a wide variety of viewpoints.

Certainly, as is true for virtually any chief state school officer, some have expressed concern about Holliday over time, but his overall performance so far has been a breath of fresh air compared to any of his post-KERA predecessors.

The Bluegrass Institute looks forward to continued communication with Dr. Holliday and watching him finish the implementation of what everyone hopes will be a much improved education program for our students.