How Does the Kentucky Bluegrass Award Program Work?

Each year, a KBA committee for each grade band chooses the books for each of the five voting Master Lists (Preschool, K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12) in a year-long process. These committees are made up of volunteers and include school librarians, public librarians, and classroom teachers from across the state. Students should read books from a Master List before voting for their favorite title on that list. The specific voting process is determined at the individual school/library level. All the ballots are counted by an on-site coordinator (usually a teacher or librarian) and the results are transferred to an online tally sheet made available on the KASL website in March of the contest year. Votes are counted after the cutoff date (April 1st) and a winner is declared for each level during the first week of April.

The Kentucky Bluegrass Award is a program designed to encourage students to read widely from lists of current, well-reviewed literature that reflects a variety of experiences and points of view. Students are not restricted on their reading in any way in the KBA program. Schools, libraries, parents and community organizations participating in the KBA should select books from these lists for inclusion in collections and programs that they feel are appropriate for the needs and interests of their patrons or students. These groups may provide some or all of the titles and develop local initiatives to promote the Kentucky Bluegrass Award.

Books on the Master Lists can be purchased as a set from several vendors or individually from book stores, catalogs, and online sources. All titles on a current year's Master List have been published within the last 3 years.

 Who Can Participate in KBA?

  • Students from Preschool - 12th grade can read and rate the books on the Master Lists. 
  • Each Master List has a grade level recommendation, but students may read/vote from multiple Master Lists. If a student has read two books from a list, they are eligible to vote.​​
  • ​Adults can nominate books for inclusion on the Master Lists, serve on KBA Committees, and encourage participation by students.​
  • Schools, libraries, bookstores, literacy groups and individuals can help promote the program and help students participate in this program.

When Does KBA Take Place?

  • Students can begin reading as soon as the Master Lists are released and submit ballots throughout the year.
  • ​Some schools and districts incorporate KBA books into Summer Reading promotions
  • All tallied votes must be submitted by April 1 of each year. Winners are announced in April.
  • Books for upcoming Master Lists can be nominated by adults through the KASL web site 
  • New Master Lists are finalized mid-March of each year.
  • In September, one of the winning authors is invited to come to Kentucky and speak at the KLA/KASL Joint Conference.

Why Participate in KBA?

  • The Kentucky Bluegrass Award program promotes student reading and critical thinking.
  • It offers students a chance to give feedback and to express their thoughts and opinions.
  • The KBA program is designed to provide a wide range of new reading materials to students and it should be implemented in a way that is simple and fun for students, parents and schools.
  • By all means, feel free to make this program broadly inclusive!

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