The Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 (KERA) is one of the most comprehensive education reform efforts attempted in the United States. This document presents an overview of factors leading to KERA's passage, its accomplishments, and areas in need of improvement. The conditions leading up to passage of KERA included disparities across Kentucky school districts in educational finance, materials, services, teacher salaries, and educational quality. Poor educational performance occurred systemwide. Recommendations are made to: (1) improve information dissemination about KERA; (2) improve parent involvement; (3) give teachers more direction, though a statewide curriculum is not necessary; (4) use rewards and sanctions to enhance school accountability; (5) include nationally normed tests in the overall assessment; (6) provide more teacher time for professional development; and (7) retain the primary program. (Contains 29 notes.) (LMI)