When Newport Independent Schools celebrates its 150th commencement this year, the milestone will represent more than a historic anniversary. It will reflect generations of students, families and leaders who have shaped the district, including one who now leads it.

Superintendent Matt Atkins, a Newport High School graduate from the Class of 2000, has come full circle. From student-athlete and senior class president to leading the district as superintendent, his path mirrors the history and evolution of one of Kentucky’s oldest public school systems.

“This is home,” Atkins said. “Everything I do is about giving students the same opportunities, and even more, that Newport gave me.”

Read more from the Northern Kentucky Tribune here. 

COVINGTON, Ky. — EducateNKY today applauded the passage of Senate Bill 263, landmark legislation designed to strengthen and expand “Schools of Innovation” across the Commonwealth. The measure is paired with a $2.5 million state investment in Covington Independent Schools to support early implementation and accelerate new approaches to teaching and learning.

At its core, the legislation reinforces a simple principle: innovation in education works best when driven locally. Districts now have greater flexibility to pilot new approaches, improve operations, and enhance student outcomes.

“The General Assembly this year moved school innovation from concept to action,” said Cheye Calvo, President & CEO of EducateNKY. “Districts now have the flexibility to design and implement solutions that better serve their students, with new resources to help bring those efforts to life.”

The new law also establishes a Schools of Innovation pilot in Covington, positioning the district to develop and test new models of teaching and learning that can inform efforts statewide.

Incoming Covington Superintendent Cortnei Flucas emphasized the opportunity ahead.

“SB 263 creates a powerful opportunity for Covington to lead in redefining what public education can be when innovation is both locally driven and anchored in accountability for student outcomes,” she said. “We have the chance to design learning experiences that are rigorous, relevant, and deeply connected to the aspirations of our students and the future of our community.”

Flucas also highlighted the importance of partnership in supporting this work.

“We are especially grateful to EducateNKY for their partnership and investment in this work, which helps create the conditions for meaningful, sustainable innovation. Together with our educators, families, and community partners, we are committed to building a model that not only transforms outcomes for Covington students, but also contributes to a broader vision for innovation across Kentucky.”

EducateNKY will continue its partnership with Covington Independent Public Schools to help access and deploy these resources at the school level—supporting implementation while ensuring schools lead the work.

Covington Board of Education Vice Chair Stephen Gastright added:

“SB 263 creates a real opportunity for Covington to build something meaningful for our students. We appreciate the General Assembly’s confidence in our district and in the idea that the people closest to students should have the flexibility to design solutions that meet local needs.”

EducateNKY expressed deep gratitude to the legislative leaders who championed the bill, including Sen. Stephen West, Sen. Chris McDaniel, Sen. Shelley Funke-Frommeyer, Rep. Kim Banta, Rep. Stephanie Dietz, Rep. Kim Moser, Rep. Jason Petrie, and House Speaker David Osborne.

EducateNKY emphasized that its role will remain collaborative and supportive, working alongside educators, administrators, and community stakeholders to help unlock new possibilities while ensuring that innovation remains grounded in local leadership and student needs.

March 26, 2026 – As the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly session moves forward, EducateNKY is tracking a number of bills that connect directly to our legislative priorities and long-term vision for Northern Kentucky. Our focus remains consistent: strengthen kindergarten readiness, build stronger educator pipelines, expand opportunities for students through out-of-school time and career-connected learning, and create more room for innovation in public education.

Several bills this session align meaningfully with that agenda.

On early learning, HB 6, SB 191, and SJR 54 all reinforce the idea that kindergarten readiness should be a central organizing goal for the Commonwealth. HB 6 proposes broad modernization of Kentucky’s child care and early learning system, including quality standards, new licensing models, and stronger public reporting. SB 191 would create a pilot that rewards child care providers for improving children’s readiness for kindergarten. SJR 54 supports efforts to expand enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an important early literacy strategy that helps families build strong foundations before children ever enter a classroom. Together, these proposals reflect the kind of prenatal-to-five alignment ENKY has called for in our legislative framework.

On teacher talent and school leadership, HB 759, SB 22, and SB 4 speak directly to a second major ENKY priority: strengthening the educator pipeline and making the profession more accessible and sustainable. HB 759 updates Kentucky’s alternative certification structure and could make it easier to bring talented educators into high-need areas. SB 22 supports a grow-your-own strategy by allowing students in approved teacher apprenticeship pathways to access dual credit scholarship support while still in high school. SB 4 would create a new practicum-based model for principal preparation, investing in stronger school leadership over time. These are the kinds of policy shifts that can help regions like Northern Kentucky recruit, prepare, and retain the talent needed to improve outcomes.

We are also encouraged by legislation that could expand student opportunity beyond the traditional school day and beyond traditional delivery models. HB 686 is especially notable because it would create a statewide Positive Youth Development Commission and trust fund that could help communities secure support for out-of-school time, mentoring, and prevention initiatives. For ENKY, that matters because we know students build skills not only in classrooms, but also through coordinated enrichment, trusted adult relationships, and strong youth-serving ecosystems.

Finally, SB 263 is one of the clearest examples of legislation that connects to ENKY’s innovation agenda. The bill would streamline the waiver process, create an expedited pathway for districts pursuing new approaches, and establish a Schools of Innovation pilot fund. That is especially relevant in Northern Kentucky as local leaders continue exploring how flexibility, collaboration, and redesigned school models can better serve students, particularly in the urban core. ENKY has consistently advocated for policies that reward innovation, remove outdated barriers, and support cross-district collaboration when it leads to better results for young people.

Other bills we are watching, including HB 513 on full-day kindergarten and HB 661 on school employee housing, also reflect practical policy conversations about what it takes to support children early and attract the workforce schools need. While each bill differs in scope and likely impact, together they show that many of the issues ENKY has prioritized are now part of the broader state conversation.

As session continues, we will keep monitoring legislation through the lens of ENKY’s core principles: helping children start strong, ensuring students build skills through aligned systems and strong partnerships, and creating the conditions for young people to own their future.

Northern Kentucky families are now getting free books from the moment their children are born.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Educate-NKY and public libraries across Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties have partnered to offer new parents the chance to sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library directly from the hospital.

Learn more from WCPO: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/finding-solutions/new-partnership-puts-free-books-in-northern-kentucky-families-hands-from-birth

The City of Southgate has officially joined the regional Read Ready initiative, unanimously adopting a resolution at its City Council meeting tonight to launch Read Ready Southgate. With this action, all six Northern Kentucky River Cities – Covington, Newport, Dayton, Ludlow, Bellevue, and now Southgate – have committed to the Read Ready initiative, achieving a major milestone for early childhood education in the region.

The Read Ready movement, supported by EducateNKY, focuses on improving kindergarten readiness by connecting families with resources and building strong community partnerships from birth through age five. The initiative has expanded city by city, creating a network of communities aligned around the goal of preparing every child for success in school and life.

“We should be so proud of NKY right now,” said Cheye Calvo, President & CEO of EducateNKY. “To have all six River Cities step forward and make early learning a civic priority shows the deep commitment our region has to its children and families. This milestone proves that when communities work together, big things are possible.”

Read more at NKY Tribune here.