The Little Red State That Could

What Other States Can Learn From Kentucky

Despite its deep red perception, common sense policies implemented in Kentucky are succeeding and helping improve the lives of people throughout the state.

COMMON CORE:

Today, the Kentucky Department of Education released data showing improvements in student performance and college/career readiness, after three years of implementing the Common Core standards. Despite the Tea Party-driven controversy over the standards, early adopters like Kentucky are showing their potential, and educators are saying the standards are going well.

• College/career readiness has jumped to 62.3 percent, from 47.2 after 2012, the first year of implementation. Before the new standards were implemented, that number sat at just 34 percent.

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT:

Kentucky has also found success with its implementation of the Affordable Care Act. As with Common Core, it was an early adopter of the program.

• The total uninsured figure is down almost 50%, after 527,000 Kentuckians enrolled in new insurance.
• The use of preventative services has increased.
• Veterans, young people, and those with preexisting conditions are now getting coverage more easily thanks to the ACA.
• The number of reimbursements received by health care providers, especially hospitals, increased by $200 million in fiscal year 2014.
• In 2016, Medicaid expansion will support 14,7000 new jobs and a $1.7 billion increase of economic activity.

BOTTOM LINE: Kentucky shows that no matter if your state is red, blue, or purple, common sense policies like Common Core and the Affordable Care Act work when they are not obstructed by conservatives determined to make anything a failure for political purposes.

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