GOVERNOR’S CUP

Events for All Types of Learners

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Kentucky’s Premiere Academic Competition

Governor's Cup encourages depth and breadth of academic knowledge, cultural literacy, teamwork, leadership, creativity, risk assessment, and critical thinking, and provides the fun that comes with being part of a team. Established in 1985, KAAC now serves over 20,000 students and nearly 1200 schools at over 400 competitions each year.

2022-23 Rules Updates

Timeouts

Each coach will be given three (3) timeouts per match. The previous designations of regular vs substitution timeout have been removed from the Quick Recall rules.  All timeouts are one minute in length, coaches may confer with and substitute students during any timeout period.

Inquiry Process

There is an update to the Quick Recall Inquiry Form to allow the judge a space to provide clarifying information before the form goes to the Chief Official. This space is only used for inquiries that are going to the Chief Official and is not required if the judge does not think clarification is necessary.

Hesitations

Students who are not identified prior to the match with a specific speech impediment can sometimes still trip over their answers during the match. Examples being taking a breath before answering, saying “wa…washington” as their answer, or simply getting tongue tied and restarting their answer. These instances when a student clearly knows the correct answer but just gets tripped up should not cause them to be counted incorrect or as a hesitation.

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Governor's Cup Events

Governor’s Cup values and rewards varied academic skills and learning styles across a broad range of disciplines and competition formats. Your school can take part in all our events, or selected events. Each student can participate in up to three of the following eight events:

  • Composition - Competitors participate in on-demand writing activities consistent with Kentucky Academic Standards. Each division uses unique writing prompts which provide the necessary information for students to write well-developed essays.  All booklets are completed in an electronic, web-based format available on the KAAC homepage.
    Elementary students write opinion pieces and complete their essays within 60 minutes. Middle and High School students write in argumentative style and complete their essays within 90 minutes.
  • Quick Recall - Competitors form teams of four for this fast-paced event. Teams listen to a moderator read a question, then try to beat the clock and the opposing team by buzzing in with the correct response. Quick Recall is the only Governor’s Cup event open to the public.
  • Choice of Five Content Assessments - Competitors can participate in multiple-choice exams for Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, or Arts and Humanities. Each subject area assessment is broken down further into various content areas for each division.
  • Future Problem Solving - Competitors can participate in Future Problem Solving (FPS) events both as part of Governor’s Cup and separately as FPS Component Events. Certified evaluators read and rank student writing in FPS.  All booklets are completed in an electronic, web-based format available on the KAAC homepage. Learn more about FPS here.
  • Opportunities to Excel in Every Grade - In the Elementary Division (grades 5 and below), students take part in District and Regional competitions. The Middle Grades Division (grades 6-8) and High School Division (grades 9-12) may participate in District, Regional and State competitions. Students advance from one competition to the next based on their performance in the prior competition.

Key Dates

Elementary

Thursday, February 2
District–Coaches’ Planning Meeting

Tuesday, February 7
District–Future Problem Solving & Composition

Saturday, February 11
District–Written Assessment, Quick Recall

Thursday, February 23
Regional–Coaches’ Planning Meeting

Monday, February 27
Regional–Future Problem Solving & Composition

Saturday, March 4
Regional–Written Assessment, Quick Recall

Middle Grades

Thursday, January 5
District–Coaches’ Planning Meeting:

Tuesday, January 10
District–Future Problem Solving and Composition

Saturday, January 14
District–Assessment, Quick Recall

Thursday, January 26
Regional–Coaches’ Planning Meeting

Monday, January  30
Regional–Future Problem Solving & Composition

Saturday, February 4
Regional–Assessment, Quick Recall

March 17-20
State Finals – Galt House, Louisville – Schedule TBA

High School

Thursday, January 12
District–Coaches’ Planning Meeting:

Tuesday, January 17
District–Future Problem Solving and Composition

Saturday, January 21
District–Assessment, Quick Recall

Thursday, February 9
Regional–Coaches’ Planning Meeting

Monday, February 13
Regional–Future Problem Solving & Composition

Saturday, February 18
Regional–Assessment, Quick Recall

March 17-20
State Finals – Galt House, Louisville – Schedule TBA

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Don’t let your questions go unanswered! Give us a call at (502) 223-0088 or email us at [email protected].