KRS 156.555: Center for Middle School Academic Achievement -- Duties -- Location at

college or university.

(1) The Center for Middle School Academic Achievement is created to improve the

content knowledge and instructional practice of middle school teachers t hrough the

coordination of professional development programs for middle school teachers, the

provision of technical assistance to schools and teachers, and the collection and

dissemination of information and research regarding effective models of teaching

the core disciplines to middle school students.

(2) The center shall:

(a) Foster collaboration between the center, the Department of Education, the

Education Professional Standards Board, postsecondary institutions of

education, postsecondary departments o r colleges of arts and sciences, and

other entities to develop content -based teacher preparation programs and

ongoing professional development programs for middle school teachers,

aligned with the Department of Education's core content for assessment;

(b) Assist school districts in assessing and addressing their needs and deficiencies

in middle school curriculum and instruction;

(c) Assist grant recipients of the Middle School Mathematics and Science

Scholars Program established under KRS 158.848 with profe ssional

development for participating teachers;

(d) Assist middle school teachers in establishing and maintaining networks of

communication to share information regarding middle school instructional

practice, curriculum development, and other areas of comm on interest,

building upon existing networks;

(e) Develop and maintain a clearinghouse for information about:

1. Educational models addressing content knowledge and skills of middle

school students, based on reliable, replicable research;

2. Core content achievement levels of Kentucky students in relation to

students in other states and other countries; and

3. The relationship between student achievement levels and curriculum

content, curriculum structure and alignment with content, teacher

training, and teaching methods;

(f) Develop and implement a research structure, in collaboration with the

Department of Education, to evaluate the effectiveness of different middle

school instructional models; and

(g) Submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislative Research

Commission by September 1 of each year. The report shall include

information outlining the center's activities, information provided by the

Kentucky Department of Education regarding the use of money from the

Teachers' Professional Growth Fund, and other information regarding efforts

to improve the quality of middle school instruction in Kentucky.

(3) With the advice of the commissioner of education and the Education Professional

Standards Board, the Council on Postsecondary Edu cation shall develop a process

to solicit, review, and approve a proposal for locating the Center for Middle School

Academic Achievement at a public or private college or university. The council

shall choose a college or university that has demonstrated th e coordination of

course delivery between the faculties of the college of education and arts and

sciences departments within the college or university. The council shall approve the

location for the center no later than November 15, 2000.