Next Generation Leadership Academy | Page 9

Progress Report 2015 EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY During the 2013-2014 Next Generation Initiative (ARI), provides $30,000,000 to Leadership Academy, a strong and powerful support improving educational outcomes partnership developed between the UK for students in the KVEC districts of eastern College of Education and the Kentucky Valley Kentucky, which are some of the poorest Education Cooperative (KVEC). KVEC, one school districts in the nation. Over the four- of eight regional cooperatives in Kentucky, year award period, the University of Kentucky is a consortium of public school districts in will provide professional development to the Kentucky Valley region. KVEC provides 400 leaders and teachers through a Next professional learning and other coordinated Generation Leadership Academy designed support services to eighteen districts in the specifically for the seventeen KVEC districts heart of Appalachia. This partnership led to participating in ARI. This work is supported by the successful application of a federal Race a sub-grant award of $1,760,000 from KVEC to to the Top District grant. This Race to the Top the UK College of Education. initiative, called the Appalachian Renaissance |9