HB 253 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.

Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish an approved list of reading curriculum and interventions that do not use a three-cueing system; prohibit school districts from using any curriculum or program that employs a three-cueing system; prohibit the use of a three-cueing system in teacher professional development; require the Educational Professional Standards Board to promulgate administrative regulations establishing curriculum for each approved educator preparation program; amend KRS 158.307 to require rather than allow local boards of education to develop a policy on dyslexia; require rather than allow the policy to include listed items; amend KRS 164.304 to require postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs to include instruction on dyslexia by the 2027-2028 school year, rather than the instruction being contingent on funding availability; amend KRS 164.306 to specify that educator preparation programs shall use evidence-based reading instruction and intervention programs and shall not provide instruction on a three-cueing system; amend KRS 161.028 to require the board to include in the standards set for teacher preparation programs that the programs shall use evidence-based reading instruction and intervention programs and shall not provide instruction on a three-cueing system.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renamed from focusing on reading instruction to a broader education mandate and significantly delayed the ban on the 'three-cueing system' from 2027 to 2029. The new version removes immediate requirements for districts to ensure all materials are scientifically researched, replacing them with a future deadline to stop using the prohibited teaching method. Additionally, the timeline for educators to complete required training on the science of reading was pushed back from 2027 to 2029.
Scope change
The bill's title and scope were expanded from 'reading and language arts instruction' to general 'education,' broadening its context beyond just literacy.
TIMELINE

The ban on using the 'three-cueing system' in public schools was delayed from the 2027-2028 school year to the 2029-2030 school year.

The deadline for all early childhood through grade five educators to complete professional development on the science of reading was delayed from 2027 to 2029.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for public school districts to ensure all reading materials are scientifically researched and free of the 'three-cueing system' was removed and replaced with a future prohibition starting in 2029.

DEFINITION

The bill title was changed to reflect a broader focus on education rather than just reading and language arts.

Floor votes · House Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
11
Committee
9
Amendments
1
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 74)
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 93-1
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Floor Amendment (3-title)
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Floor Amendments (2) and (3-title) and Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Floor Amendment (3-title)
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Introduced
floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (3-title) filed to bill
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Committee
to Education (S)
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 94-1 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.