BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – When it comes to school, math can be a divisive subject for both students and educators.

Though the Educator’s Professional Implementation Center, or EPIC, a group that works within the Green River Regional Education Cooperative is hoping to change that.

Earlier this month, EPIC announced its designation as an Approved Professional Learning Partner with the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Academies.

“With the recent passing of the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Act, which is House Bill 162 of 2024, the intent of that bill is to increase mathematics support for students and to impact student outcomes,” said EPIC’s Chief Programming Director Rebecca Gaddie. “When KED, the Kentucky Department of Education, received funding related to that particular house bill, they were able to open up the opportunity for partners to submit proposals and become an approved professional learning partner in that work with them.”

This approval will allow EPIC to give 200 Kentucky educators the chance to increase their mathematical literacy through their Numeracy Alliance.

“They’re going to receive some in person training at a couple of locations across Kentucky, as well as some ongoing support around how to increase their own capacity in mathematics as just an individual,” Gaddie said. “Then also, how to support students in really deep learning mathematical reasoning in relation to our standards for mathematical practice and our Kentucky mathematics standards.”

The program is open to third through eighth grade educators across the Commonwealth, with Gaddie adding districts won’t have to come up with a fee.

“With that house bill, some funding came down to the Kentucky Department of Education, and as an approved partner with KDE, we’re actually able to sponsor the fee for engagement in this opportunity, which is a value of $3,500 per educator over the two-year experience.”

Gaddie said the program is just as much for math fanatics as it is educators who want to subtract the subject all together.

“Traditionally, mathematics has been something that some people like, and some people are a little bit more apprehensive about. So, one of our main goals is to open up people to this idea of enjoying mathematics, to really digging around in the fun part of mathematics, which is really where the complex mathematics happens. Looking at patterns, really identifying relationships between quantities and looking for math in the world around them and how they actually use it in real life.”

Grade three through five educators will be focused on numeracy concepts related to fractions, while grade six through eight educators will build their understanding of ratios and proportional reasoning.

EPIC will be hosting educators from across the state at their kickoff meeting Sept. 27 in Bowling Green and Oct. 17 in Shelbyville.

Educators interested in the program are asked to email EPIC at epic@grrecc.org.

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