Education

signed · Kentucky · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 4: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to define "department" and "principal"; establish the principal leadership development practicum; require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop and operate the practicum and outline the required components of the practicum; allow for substitution of practicum hours for hours of instruction required by the effective instructional leadership program; begin the practicum requirements with the 2027-2028 school year; authorize the promulgation of administrative regulations for the operation of the practicum; amend KRS 156.101 to conform; amend KRS 161.207 to remove references to the principal internship program and make conforming changes to initial principal certification process; amend KRS 156.492 to remove an outdated reference; require the Kentucky Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission by November 1, 2026, setting out the implementation plan for the practicum.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mandatory principal leadership development practicum requiring state implementation to strengthen school leadership and instructional programs.95% confidence

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 122: AN ACT relating to historical instruction.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require African history instruction in certain middle and high school world history and civilization courses; require Native American history instruction in certain middle and high school United States history courses; require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations establishing academic standards for the required historical instructions; require superintendents to adopt curricula for required instruction; require the Department of Education to collaborate with the Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage and the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission to develop recommended curricula and instruction guidelines for the required historical instruction, elective high school course offerings in African history and Native American history, and relevant professional development materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates required African and Native American history curriculum in K-12 courses, expanding educational content and enhancing historical instruction standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 376: AN ACT relating to public postsecondary education institutions.

Amend KRS 164.020 to prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from raising tuition for a postsecondary education institution more than 5% a year for Kentucky resident students and 7% a year for non-Kentucky resident students; provide a 4-year tuition freeze for an enrolled Kentucky resident student; require an institution to notify a student before expiration of a tuition freeze; require any increase in tuition or fees to be approved before March 1; provide that the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Student Tuition Protection and Accountability Act; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2029.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCapped tuition increases (5%/7%) and mandated 4-year freeze for KY residents protect students from cost hikes, aligning with cost-access indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Kentucky · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 298: AN ACT relating to KEES scholarships for students attending noncertified schools.

Amend KRS 164.7874, relating to KEES awards, to define terms; amend KRS 164.7879 to establish the use of a specified equivalent grade point average for eligible graduates of certain private, parochial, or church schools based on the Advanced Placement exam score, dual credit courses grade point average, or a combination of both; amend KRS 164.7881 and 164.7884 to conform.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands KEES scholarship eligibility for private/parochial school students by establishing AP/dual credit GPA criteria, increasing educational access and funding for noncertified schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Kentucky · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 383: AN ACT relating to children of military families.

Amend KRS 159.075 to require a school district to take the necessary steps to ensure that a child of a military family who has an individualized education program or section 504 plan shall receive comparable services when the child begins school; amend KRS 200.664 to require a point of entry to take the necessary steps to ensure that a child with an individualized family services plan shall receive comparable services prior to the child's arrival to their new location.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures military-connected students with disabilities receive comparable educational services during school transitions, strengthening access and continuity of support under education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 358: AN ACT relating to paramedic education.

Create a new section of KRS 164.740 to 164.7891 to establish a coal county paramedic scholarship to be administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA); define terms; establish a fund in the State Treasury to be administered by KHEAA for providing coal county paramedic scholarships.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state treasury fund for paramedic scholarships, allocating state budget resources under Budget & Financial Administration.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates coal county paramedic scholarship fund under KHEAA, expanding higher education access and funding for paramedic training programs in Kentucky.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 261: AN ACT relating to the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 161 to enact and enter into the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact; declare purpose; define terms; set requirements for member states and for school psychologists to participate in the compact; establish provisions for active duty military members or their spouses; designate procedures for adverse actions against a school psychologist; create the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission and establish its internal procedures; provide for the commission to facilitate the exchange of information; establish rulemaking procedures, oversight, financing, dispute resolution, and enforcement provisions of the compact; create member state compact withdrawal procedures; provide for amendments to the compact; specify applicability of the compact to certain Kentucky state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFacilitates interstate licensure for school psychologists, improving access to mental health services in schools per compact provisions.70% confidence

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passed · Kentucky · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 195: AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 247 to define terms; establish the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative to promote farming to youth in urban counties with a pilot program in at least 1 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service office by September 1, 2026; set each program term to 1 year in duration, beginning each January; establish guidelines and participant eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates youth agriculture initiative through university extension, enhancing K-12 educational opportunities in urban counties via structured program90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Kentucky · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 63: AN ACT relating to student journalist freedom.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to state legislative findings; define terms; establish additional free speech protections for student journalists; place limitations on additional protections; establish protections for student media advisors; require each local school board to adopt a written policy for time, place, and manner restrictions and for an appeals procedure; provide that student speech not be considered school speech; allow for a student journalist or student media advisor to seek injunctive relief; provide that the Act may be cited as the New Voices Act.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes free speech protections for student journalists, requiring school policies on restrictions and appeals, strengthening educational freedom in media.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · Kentucky · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 106: AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship.

Amend KRS 164.7874 to include the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy to the definition of "participating institution" under the Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship program if the academy enters into the necessary agreements with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access to military academies, increasing educational opportunities under higher education funding program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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