US Department of Education Secretary Cardona Selects Dr. Fletcher as the Appalachia Regional Advisory Council Chairman
During the spring semester, a representative from Governor Andy Beshear’s office reached out to Dr. Fletcher and requested that he serve as a member of the Appalachia Region Advisory Committee (RAC). The Appalachia RAC’s objective was to provide recommendations regarding the educational needs of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia and how those needs could be addressed through technical assistance from the US Department of Education. In August, the 17-member committee with members from each of the four states was formed, and the US Department of Education Secretary, Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, appointed Superintendent Fletcher as the Chairperson for the Appalachia RAC. By mid-November, Chair Fletcher and the committee produced a 45-page report that included five recommendations as priority needs for Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia. The report presented the outcomes/findings, priority needs, and potential technical assistance for the following five areas:
- Teacher shortage and recruitment
- Student/teacher mental health
- Chronic absenteeism
- Employer/Workforce preparation and needs
- Family engagement (focus on kinship care and grandfamilies)
At this point, the report has been approved by the committee and submitted to the US Department of Education for consideration. The report will be made available to the public in weeks to come.
For more information about the Appalachia RAC and the nine other regional advisory committees, please visit the following website: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/program-and-grantee-support-services/comprehensive-centers-program/regional-advisory-committees/