Rose v Council for Better Education

In 1989, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Rose v. Council for Better Education that electrified the Commonwealth—and the nation—and led to sweeping educational reforms even beyond Kentucky. The Court determined that Kentucky’s entire education system was unconstitutional, and it required the Commonwealth to design an entirely new system that would provide all students with an “adequate” and “equitable” education. The Court specifically defined “adequacy” to mean an education system that provides “every child” with seven “capacities”.

​

Rose v Council for Better Education

THE 7 CAPACITIES OF ROSE

7 Capacities the decision created

• Sufficient oral and written communication skills to enable students to function in a complex and rapidly changing civilization

• Sufficient knowledge of economic, social, and political systems to enable the student to make informed choices

• Sufficient understanding of governmental processes to enable the student to understand the issues that affect his or her community, state, and nation

• Sufficient self-knowledge and knowledge of his or her mental and physical wellness

THE 7 CAPACITIES OF ROSE

7 Capacities the decision created

• Sufficient grounding in the arts to enable each student to appreciate his or her cultural and historical heritage

• Sufficient training or preparation for advanced training in either academic or vocational fields so as to enable each child to choose and pursue life work intelligently

• Sufficient levels of academic or vocational skills to enable public school students to compete favorably with their counterparts in surrounding states