Eastern Kentucky University holds ground breaking ceremony for new Model Laboratory School; announces new School of Education
The Model Laboratory Schools is a public teaching lab that gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work with kids in preschool through 12th grade to help them prepare to become educators.
On May 6, 2025, Eastern Kentucky University broke ground on its new Model Laboratory School, a public teaching lab to provide undergraduate and graduate students from various disciplines the opportunity to gain the skills they need to become educators and education professionals. In addition, during the ceremony, the university also announced the formation of its new School of Education within the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences.
According to an article on Eastern Kentucky University’s website, State Representative James Tipton, the Kentucky House Higher Education Committee chairman, explained how the new facility will help handle the state’s current teacher shortage. He is quoted as saying, “Innovation is essential in addressing Kentucky’s teacher shortage, and I applaud EKU and Model for building a dynamic and forward-looking facility that redefines teacher preparation. This facility is a prime example of the importance of state investment in teacher pipelines.”
The new Model Laboratory School was funded through the Kentucky General Assembly in the 2021-22 and 2023-24 sessions for a total of $149.1 million. It will provide immersive education and hands-on experiences for Eastern Kentucky University students who are training to become educators or to become professionals within an education setting. The Model Laboratory School will also house the university’s early childhood development center and Model students in preschool through 12th grade. In addition to classroom spaces for the children, the building will be home to classrooms for EKU students, faculty offices, an auditorium, and a lecture hall.
The university’s president David McFaddin said at the ceremony, “This is an exciting day for EKU and Model Laboratory School, as we break ground on a new Model campus and celebrate the shared impact we have in shaping the future of education. This new facility will be a hub of innovation and research—one of the most distinctive environments in the nation for post-secondary teacher preparation—offering immersive learning that equips the next generation of educators for success.”
At the ceremony, it was also announced that the university would be establishing the School of Education. When the Model Laboratory School opens, which is expected to be in the 2027-28 academic year, it will collaborate closely with the School of Education.
Dr. Elizabeth Smith, the dean of the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences, said, “The School of Education is more than a name—it’s a reaffirmation of our historic mission to lead educator preparation in Kentucky and beyond. The School of Education will serve as a visible and distinct unit within CEAHS, strengthening our identity and deepening our impact on the future of education.”
For more information about Eastern Kentucky University, visit the school’s website.