Hickman, KY. - The future of education was defined recently for a West Kentucky audience. The man who presented a view of how students would learn in the future was Ken Winters, retiring First District State Senator. Winters is Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and is one Kentucky’s leading expert on educational systems.

“Kentucky’s educational future is all about K-20.” Winters told a group of more than fifty teachers, school superintendents, school board members and students, who gathered at the Fulton County Technology Center meeting in Hickman, Kentucky.

Winters explained “After my long years in the education profession, I am convinced that the next big opportunity for our schools and students is the seamless integration of kindergarten -elementary-high school-college and post-college into a comprehensive and innovative track of learning.”

He talked of how we must work harder and smarter to reach the youngest of our children and make them ready for a life long journey of learning. He stressed how we must re-examine how and what we teach as core knowledge in elementary and high school.

“I stand here today, proud of what you have undertaken to change our school experience for the betterment of our students.  I want to stress the importance of what you are doing with dual credit.” spoke Winters.

Winters explained how the Falcon Academy at the Hickman County High School was becoming a statewide model in dual credit education. Under this program, high school juniors and seniors could take college courses for college credit while still in high school.

Winters also pointed out to the audience how West Kentucky Community & Technical College was also enjoying their entrance into a dual credit program.

“Bottom line is that our experience and leadership in West Kentucky is allowing the state to practice 21st Century educational leadership for Kentucky and the nation.”

In his view of tomorrow’s education practices, Kentucky students who move on to advanced degrees will carry with them new linkages back into high school classes. Winters believes students will have the chance to merge their talents with section of potential life job career planning.

This planning could be established in the early college courses offered in high schools for dual credit. The future is in K- 20 and Winters believes that Kentucky can be a leader for the nation in how students translate seamlessly from one level to the next.