Jefferson County Schools Seek Input on Strategic Plan

Families can attend upcoming forums to help set new academic goals for students across the district.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Secondary Education

Screen-print poster illustration showing wooden school blocks forming a structure, representing academic growth and community planning in a local district. — Jefferson County Public Schools is hosting community forums to collect feedback for a new five-year strategic plan to improve student performance. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe long-term strategic planning effectively improves the quality of education in your local schools?

Jefferson County Public Schools is gathering community feedback to build its first long-term strategic plan since 2014. Families in Louisville can attend upcoming sessions to influence priorities like safety, academic growth, and student support.

Why it matters

The district is working to address performance gaps, as state data indicates at least 62% of students currently score below proficiency in reading and 69% in math. This plan aims to set measurable improvement goals for the 2026-27 school year.

The district aims for a 3% increase in reading and math proficiency and a 3% reduction in absenteeism and suspensions by the 2026-27 school year. These metrics reflect current state data showing significant portions of the student body are below proficiency.

The players

Jefferson County Public Schools

The primary school district serving Louisville, which is currently drafting its first comprehensive strategic plan in over a decade.

The details

The district is holding a series of public forums to solicit input from families, staff, and residents on a new long-term framework. The process centers on six pillars: safety, belonging, academic excellence, growth, care, and support. Officials are using these sessions to gather perspectives before finalizing the five-year plan, which will replace the district's last strategic document from 2014.

- October 15, 2026: Community forum held at Ballard High School.
- October 28, 2026: Community forum scheduled at Central High School.
- October 29, 2026: Community forum scheduled at W.E.B. DuBois Academy.
- 2026-27 school year: Target timeframe for performance improvements.

The Home Front

The district is establishing a new five-year framework to address the lack of a formal strategic plan since the 2014 document expired. This move represents a shift toward data-driven goal setting to replace the long-standing absence of a district-wide long-term roadmap.

Families should track how the district’s proposed 3% growth targets for reading and math might impact their student’s individual classroom experience. Attending a public forum is the most direct way to voice concerns about school-specific logistics and support programs.

The takeaway

The new five-year plan intends to bring measurable accountability back to the school system for the first time in over a decade. Keep an eye on district communications regarding the finalized priorities to see how they align with your family's academic expectations.

What happens next

Residents can attend upcoming forums at Central High School on October 28, 2026, or at W.E.B. DuBois Academy on October 29, 2026, to provide feedback on the draft plan.