Forty-Eight Kentucky Schools and Early Care Centers Awarded Family Friendly School Certification

NEWS RELEASE
June 3, 2025

Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee
(cell) 859-475-7202
lisa@prichardcommittee.org

LEXINGTON, Ky — The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has awarded 48 Kentucky schools and early care centers with a Family Friendly Schools Certification this spring.

“Schools that achieve this certification show a strong commitment to actively involving families in their students’ education,” said Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. “These 48 schools from across the Commonwealth have been both creative and enthusiastic in making families an essential part of their school community, helping to enhance the educational experience for all students. We are proud they have pursued this certification as a reflection of their dedication to their students and the broader community.”

The schools have worked to foster more effective partnerships with families and the broader community. As part of the certification process, a multidisciplinary team consisting of families, teachers and administrators used a self-assessment tool to evaluate the school’s family engagement performance. This team evaluated the school’s practices, identified key areas for improvement, and integrated new practices designed to elevate its family-friendly rating. There are currently 72 Family Friendly Certified schools across Kentucky.

The Family Friendly Schools Certification is awarded by the Prichard Committee after applications are reviewed and scored by a working group of families, educators and community organizations. The group is focused on increasing open communication, learning opportunities and shared decision-making power across the Kentucky education system.

Ten schools, including six schools in Washington County, achieved Gold-level certification. These schools demonstrate skills in engaging families as co-creators in the education process.

While schools can be intentionally in partnership with families, there is also work at the district level to support deep and meaningful family partnership. With this in mind, the Prichard Committee is partnering with 5 districts across the state to pilot a Family Friendly District process.  Look for the statewide release of these materials in November of 2025.

The next certification window will open on Aug. 15 and close on Oct. 1^. For more details on the Family Friendly Schools Certification, visit prichardcommittee.org/familyengagement.

2025 Spring Family Friendly Schools Certification Awardees 

* Denotes Gold Certification

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The Prichard Committee believes in the power and promise of public education –early childhood through college– to ensure Kentuckians’ economic and social well-being. We are a citizen-led, non-partisan, solutions-focused nonprofit, established in 1983 with a singular mission of realizing a path to a larger life for Kentuckians with education at the core.