Preventing the Summer Slide: Education Matters
Summer break for students means no school and no homework. For them, it's a time of relaxing and having fun. But unfortunately, it can lead to learning loss. Host Kelsey Starks and experts talk about the reality of the summer slide and what parents, teachers and students can do to help prevent it.
About
Education Matters, hosted by Kelsey Starks, is a one-hour public affairs program focused on education topics for parents, students and teachers.
Topics discussed this season include reading proficiency, writing skills, a new law that returns cursive instruction to the classroom and more.
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Season 17 Episodes
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Education Matters - S18 E2
College can be expensive, but few families will pay the full sticker price for tuition. Host Kelsey Starks and a panel of experts explain the true cost of college, outline financial aid options, and share ways families can start cutting costs early. A 2026 KET production.
- Monday October 12, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KET
- Monday October 12, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KET
- Wednesday October 14, 2026 2:30 am ET on KET
- Wednesday October 14, 2026 1:30 am CT on KET
- Thursday October 15, 2026 6:00 am ET on KETKY
- Thursday October 15, 2026 5:00 am CT on KETKY
- Thursday October 15, 2026 6:00 pm ET on KETKY
- Thursday October 15, 2026 5:00 pm CT on KETKY
- Thursday October 15, 2026 10:30 pm ET on KETKY
- Thursday October 15, 2026 9:30 pm CT on KETKY
- Saturday October 17, 2026 7:00 am ET on KETKY
- Saturday October 17, 2026 6:00 am CT on KETKY
- Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00 pm ET on KETKY
- Saturday October 17, 2026 11:00 am CT on KETKY
- Sunday October 18, 2026 2:00 pm ET on KET
- Sunday October 18, 2026 1:00 pm CT on KET
- Wednesday October 21, 2026 7:00 am ET on KETKY
- Wednesday October 21, 2026 6:00 am CT on KETKY
- Thursday October 22, 2026 4:00 am ET on KET
- Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00 am CT on KET
Recent
AI in the Classroom: Education Matters - S17 E2
- Saturday September 19, 2026 5:00 pm ET on KETKY
- Saturday September 19, 2026 4:00 pm CT on KETKY
- Thursday September 17, 2026 7:00 pm ET on KETKY
- Thursday September 17, 2026 6:00 pm CT on KETKY
- Thursday September 17, 2026 7:00 am ET on KETKY
- Thursday September 17, 2026 6:00 am CT on KETKY
- Tuesday September 8, 2026 8:30 pm ET on KETKY
- Tuesday September 8, 2026 7:30 pm CT on KETKY
- Tuesday September 8, 2026 1:00 pm ET on KETKY
- Tuesday September 8, 2026 12:00 pm CT on KETKY
- Tuesday September 8, 2026 8:00 am ET on KETKY
- Tuesday September 8, 2026 7:00 am CT on KETKY
Kindergarten Readiness: Education Matters - S18 E1
- Wednesday September 9, 2026 5:00 am ET on KET
- Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:00 am CT on KET
- Sunday September 6, 2026 2:00 pm ET on KET
- Sunday September 6, 2026 1:00 pm CT on KET
Episode Resources
Resources for Kindergarten Readiness
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “Kindergarten Readiness” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, August 17, 2026.
- Let’s Learn Kentucky
- A resource hub for parents and caregivers navigating the early years, from birth through the time they enter school, a critical time for children’s brain development.
- CDC Developmental Milestones
- KY HANDS
- Early Childhood Family Guides
- Let’s Learn Kentucky
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Kentucky
- School Readiness Definition
- Kentucky Early Childhood Standards
- Preparing for Kindergarten
- Why Early Matters
- Kentucky Early Childhood Profiles
- Child Care and Early Learning 2026 Kentucky Fact Sheets (First Five Years Fund)
- Kentucky State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (National Institute for Early Education Research)
- Kindergarten Readiness Toolkit (Prichard Committee)
- Strong Start Kentucky
- Thrive by 5 Louisville
- Checkmarks of Owensboro
- Metro United Way’s Developmental Screening Hub
- Metro United Way’s Learning Together, Growing Together Activities and Videos
- These resources give parents and caregivers ideas for ways to talk, move, read, and play with their child. Find activities for infants (ages 0 to 12 months), toddlers (ages 1 to 3 years), and preschoolers (ages 3 to 5 years)
- 2-1-1 – A Free and Confidential Information and Referral Service
- This resource helps people face life challenges, often for the first time, by connecting them to the local resources they need. It’s available in over 100 languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Individuals can call 2-1-1 or search resources online.
- MUW’s early childhood resource page
- NAEYC: Kindergarten Here We Come
- Get Ready for School Checklists
- NAEYC: Where We Stand on School Readiness
Resources for Preventing the Summer Slide
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “Preventing the Summer Slide” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, June 8, 2026.
- BellXcel
- Engage in Real Life
- Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
- Using FBI statistics to draw a connection between greater access to youth programming and a decrease in youth involvement in the juvenile justice system.
- Just Say Yes program in Franklin County
- KDE’s School and Public Library Partner Guide
- KDE’s Summer Boost
- KDE’s Summer Support
- KDE’s Summer Support Mathematics Resources
- KDE’s Virtual Read-Aloud Series
- Kentucky After 3 pm
- Kentucky Out of School Alliance
- Literacy Inc.
- National University
- Neighborhood House
- Summer Food Service Program
- Sustaining Momentum on Summer Learning
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- US Department of Health and Human Services
- Details about adolescents being on screens an average of 7 to 9 hours a day.
- YMCA Power Scholars Academy
Resources for AI in the Classroom: Education Matters
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “AI in the Classroom” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, April 6, 2026.
- Encourage, engage and empower the safe, secure and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school efficiency and the learning space by teachers and students, ensuring humans remain in the loop with strong AI implementations.
- Kentucky Department of Education (KDE): AI in Kentucky K-12 report, March 2026
- What do AI chatbots really mean for students and cheating?
- Cheating in the age of generative AI: A high school survey study of cheating behaviors before and after the release of ChatGPT
Resources for Paths for Success: Education Matters
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “Paths for Success” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, November 8, 2025.
- Department of Education’s CTE Website
- Empower U Website
- Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education (KACTE)
- TRACK: Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky
Resources for Paying for College 2026: Education Matters
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “Paying for College 2026” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, October 13, 2025.
- facebook.com/KASFAA
- FAFSA
- FAFSA Completion Guide
- FAFSA Walkthrough Video
- kasfaa
- kheaa
- KHEAA (Outreach Department)
- KYGoesToCollege
- StudentAid
Resources for The Science of Literacy: Education Matters
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “The Science of Literacy” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, September 15, 2025.
- Kentucky Department of Education (KDE): Early Literacy
- Kentucky Department of Education (KDE): Early Literacy Resources
- Kentucky Department of Education (KDE): Kentucky Reading Academies/LETRS training
- Kentucky Reading Research Center
- Literacy at a Glance Collection
- New American Cursive
- Read at Home Plan Family Guide
- There are also Spanish, Nepali, Swahili, Kinyarwanda and Arabic versions (the top five second languages spoken in Kentucky) available.
- WKU School of Teacher Education
Resources for Families: Education Matters
These resources were mentioned in or consulted for the “Families” episode of Education Matters, which premiered on KET on Monday, August 18, 2025.
- Academic Standards, Family Guides
- The Center for Gifted Studies: Western Kentucky University
- FRYSCKy: Family Resource Youth Services Coalition of Kentucky
- Kenton County Public Library Education Services
- Kenton County Public Library Kindergarten-High School Children and Student Programs, Resources and Services
- Kentucky Department of Education Parent and Family Resources
- Northern Kentucky Education CouncilParentCamp: Transformational Family-School-Community Engagement
- Pritchard Committee Family Friendly Schools
- YMCA of Central Kentucky: Back to School Rallies
- ParentCamp, Transformational Family-School-Community Engagement
