Site chosen for new Model Laboratory School

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) announced the location of the new Model Laboratory School (Model Lab) on Friday, September 27, 2024. Model Lab, named no. 3 among all Kentucky high schools in the Kentucky Board of Education’s annual report card for the 2022-23 academic school year, is currently located on 929 Lancaster Avenue in Richmond, Kentucky. The new location will be on the southside of EKU’s the Campus Beautiful on and around the Leslie Leach Driving Range and the Big E Parking Lot on Kit Carson Drive.

Construction of Model Laboratory School was completely funded through the work of the General Assembly in both the 2021-2022 session and the 2023-2024 session for a total of $149.1 million. The funds will provide a state of the art research and educational laboratory facility, a teaching learning space to help train and serve those key professions that work in a P-12 school setting from across the Commonwealth. 

The decision to move Model Lab from its current location was based on several factors including providing students with state-of-the-art facilities and taking advantage of the existing infrastructure on Kit Carson Drive. The new location will contain all activities for early education, elementary, middle and high school in one central area, reducing traffic congestion on the Eastern Bypass (KY-876), and the space necessary for providing EKU students with hands-on clinical experience.

“At EKU, we have been dedicated to elevating our undergraduate and graduate students through innovative programs and initiatives that position our institution as a game changer in higher education,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “This new facility and location will provide expanded programming and research opportunities for EKU and our partner educational organizations as the only laboratory school in the state of Kentucky. We are committed to expanding more opportunities for our students, fostering an innovative learning environment that will lead well into students' academic and professional successes. Our students are the next generation of leaders, the new Model Lab will only enhance opportunities for students,teachers and other professionals who work in school settings to grow.”

The move is part of a broader university initiative to strengthen collaboration between EKU's College of Education and Applied Human Sciences (CEAHS) and Model Laboratory Schools. As Kentucky's only public teaching lab for grades P-12, Model Lab offers EKU undergraduate and graduate students valuable hands-on experience, helping them become skilled educators and professionals.

“Providing world class learning spaces where we can prepare the next generation of teachers who ultimately serve students all across the Commonwealth has been a driving force in designing the next Model Lab School,” said John Williamson, EKU Dean of P12 Programs and Superintendent of Model Laboratory Schools. “With the addition of a professional development center, Model will become a center of professional learning for education professionals. Education is at the heart of everything we do at EKU.”

In addition, EKU is launching an exploratory work group in conjunction with a campuswide master planning initiative to identify items including campus connectivity for faculty, staff and students, space utilization and enhancements for educational programming between Model Lab and academic colleges.

"The collaborative efforts between the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences and Model are the foundation of clinical experiences for our future teachers. The new Model Lab School will be an essential part of every future teacher's experience at EKU,” said Elizabeth Smith, EKU Dean of College and Applied Human Sciences.

Construction will commence in Summer of 2025 with the school projected to open in the Fall 2027.

EKU launched a webpage providing stakeholders with information on the Model Lab construction project and will continue to update throughout the project.

Learn more about the new Model Laboratory School at http://go.eku.edu/education.