Improving education is critical for our community. How you can help expand our reporting.

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5 days ago

The Courier Journal has a long history of in-depth, investigative reporting that has led to positive changes for children and families in Louisville and across Kentucky
Our series 'Between the Lines' took a hard look at why so many Kentucky kids can't read and uncovered a state-funded literacy center that was promoting a reading program that was failing our kids. Our stories led to changes in the state Read to Succeed Act, and lawmakers mandated structured literacy, a proven teaching method, for all of Kentucky's public K-3 reading classes.
Our investigation into Jefferson County Public Schools' integration plan — "The Last Stop' and 'Magnetic Pull' — revealed the injustice of Louisville's busing program and showed how the city's magnet schools poach the best students from poor schools and jettison others who could hurt their elite standing. In the wake of our findings, leaders across the political spectrum called for an overhaul of the system.
Our "Silence & Secrets" project exposed the disturbing prevalence of child sexual misconduct by Kentucky middle- and high-school coaches. State lawmakers had previously failed to pass legislation to deal with the problem. But after our series published, two out of three bills spotlighted as solutions in our project passed during the 2025 legislative session, and Gov. Andy Beshear signed them into law. One bill adds accountability for how coaches communicate with students, while the other raises awareness about sexual misconduct for athletes and coaches.
Our projects have been solution-focused, and they have gotten results for our community.
We want to do more of these in-depth projects that help improve education and the lives of Kentucky's children, but we need your help. If you believe this type of reporting is valuable, help us create an expanded, community-funded education reporting team that will focus exclusively on issues that impact how our children learn. The reporting team will be the essential component of the Courier Journal education lab — a solutions-driven project with the goal of offering promising ideas to combat persistent educational challenges.
We know education is critical. It impacts all aspects of our cities and state — from health care to juvenile justice to workforce stability and more.
The Courier Journal believes, and has demonstrated, that a crucial part of improving children's well-being and helping kids succeed in school is shedding light on the challenges our cities and state face, raising awareness of innovative solutions and engaging the community — parents, students, educators, civic groups and political leaders — in efforts to remove barriers affecting our children. That is exactly what our education lab would do, and that is why we are asking for your help.
We are thankful for our first community donor, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. The foundation does important work for young people and families in our state, and we are honored that its leaders have chosen to support the education lab.
We are also excited to partner with the University of Louisville, offering their students learning opportunities and internships through the education lab.
The need is great. Kentucky's kids have persistently ranked near the bottom of the nation when it comes to academic achievement. When you factor in issues that impact children's ability to learn — like poverty, adverse childhood experiences, racial disparities, lack of access to health care and mental health services — you start to understand the mountain our children must climb to attain higher levels of well-being and academic success.
Consider these statistics:
More than 20% of Kentucky children live in poverty, and that rate jumps above 30% for children of color (36% for Black children and 31% for Latinx children).
Less than half of Kentucky's kindergarteners show up to school ready to learn.
Only half of fourth grade students are proficient readers, and just 37% of eighth graders are proficient in math. These rates drop significantly for students of color.
We believe a community-funded education lab would help. It's not a new concept. The Seattle Times started the first community-funded education lab in 2013 and has raised millions of dollars to support its reporting labs. There are now at least five community-funded education labs across the country.
It is no secret that news organizations across the country are adjusting to a decline in traditional revenue streams. The Courier Journal is no exception. Despite our challenges, we are dedicated to doing the invaluable work of informing the public, holding elected officials accountable and providing a platform for the free exchange of ideas, which is central to a democracy.
We are committed to doing our part to improve our community. Your support will help us do even more for those who need us the most — our children and future generations.
To donate to The Courier Journal education lab fund, use this link: https://givebutter.com/cj-giving. Thanks to our partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, your donation is tax deductible. If you have any questions or would like us to present our plan to your company or organization, please contact me at [e-mail].
Thank you for supporting local news. Thank you for supporting The Courier Journal.
Mary Irby-Jones is the editor of the Courier Journal and vice president and Midwest region editor. She can be reached at [e-mail]. Follow her on Twitter @mirbyj.
Donate to The Courier Journal education lab
To make a tax-deductible donation to increase solutions-oriented, in-depth education and children's issues coverage in The Courier journal, go to https://givebutter.com/cj-giving.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: To expand education reporting, The Courier Journal needs your help
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