Kentucky Board Opened Award Nominations

The state is seeking entries for an award recognizing excellence in public school mathematics instruction.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Secondary Education

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The Kentucky Board of Education has opened nominations for the 2026 Kevin C. Brown Strategic Priority Award. This honor recognizes public schools or districts that show a strong commitment to mathematics instruction.

Why it matters

The award highlights the importance of effective math education across Kentucky. It encourages schools to adopt evidence-based practices that improve student outcomes in essential numerical subjects.

Eligible nominees must demonstrate commitment to mathematics instruction through evidence-based practices aligned with KRS 158.8402. Applicants must specifically document their implementation of the Numeracy Counts Act.

The players

Kentucky Board of Education

This body oversees the management and policy direction for the public school system across the state.

Kevin C. Brown

He is a former official who served the state education department for over a decade and held the role of interim commissioner.

The details

Interested parties must submit their nominations through the official online form provided by the Kentucky Department of Education. Nominees are required to provide clear evidence of their Numeracy Counts Act implementation and existing community mathematics partnerships.

Kevin C. Brown served the Kentucky Department of Education from 2004 to 2018.
Kevin C. Brown served as interim education commissioner from December 2019 to September 2020.
The nomination period for the award closes on October 30.
The board will present the award at the meeting held in February 2027.

Culture Shift

This award aligns with the broader state effort to institutionalize rigorous math standards through the Numeracy Counts Act. It reflects a growing movement to prioritize specific, measurable academic performance metrics in the state education system.

The competition encourages school districts to improve their math programs, potentially leading to better classroom resources for local students. Families should check if their school or district plans to submit a nomination to highlight their local academic successes.

The takeaway

Schools that demonstrate success in mathematics can gain recognition through this state-level award process. Interested districts should gather documentation regarding their Numeracy Counts Act compliance well before the October deadline.

What happens next

The nomination period for this award is scheduled to close on October 30, 2026, followed by the formal presentation of the award at the February 2027 board meeting.