The Kentucky Education Reform Act established learning standards that were higher than those of previous educational systems. The main gauge for assessing how well students measure up to these standards is a statewide system that evaluates what students know and can do. In 1991, the Kentucky State Board for Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a set of milestones for incorporation into instruction, measurable by the assessment system. To clarify these goals in response to requests from parents, educators, legislators, and others, the outcomes were restated as academic expectations, using easily understood language. This document contains the recommended, measurable academic expectations for what Kentucky high school graduates must know and be able to do as they exit public schools. Six goals are detailed. Students shall: (1) be able to use basic communication and mathematics skills for purposes and situations they will encounter throughout their lives; (2) develop their abilities to apply core concepts and principles from all content area subjects as well as practical living studies and vocational studies to what they will encounter throughout their lives; (3) develop their abilities to become self-sufficient individuals; (4) develop their abilities to become responsible members of a family, work group, or community, including demonstrating effectiveness in community service; (5) develop their abilities to think and solve problems in school situations and a variety of life situations; and (6) develop their abilities to connect and integrate experiences and new knowledge from all subject matter fields with previous learning and build on past learning to acquire new information through various sources. (BGC)