Education (Teachers)

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 610: AN ACT relating to teachers.

Amend KRS 158.060 to require teachers to be compensated for noninstructional planning time within their school day during which they are required to supervise or instruct students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires compensation for teachers' required noninstructional time, directly supporting educator pay and workload management under education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Kentucky · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 685: AN ACT relating to professional credentials.

HB 685 requires Kentucky's Education Professional Standards Board to issue 5-year teaching certificates to new teachers who pass required assessments. This directly affects new educators and those seeking additional certification in Kentucky public schools, as it mandates successful completion of field-specific tests before receiving a professional certificate. Key provisions include: (1) a 5-year professional certificate after passing assessments, (2) conditional certificates for one year if assessments are failed (with mentoring support), and (3) temporary certificates for out-of-state teachers with less than two years' experience. The bill standardizes certification timelines and assessment requirements without altering existing fee structures or minority recruitment data collection.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates teacher assessments for certification, strengthening educator qualifications and ensuring qualified teachers in Kentucky public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 395: AN ACT relating to curriculum.

HB 395 requires all public middle and high schools in Kentucky to include specific instruction on the history of racism in their curriculum. This directly affects public school students and educators in grades 6-12, mandating coverage of topics like the transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and residential segregation. The bill specifies that this instruction must be integrated into existing courses and does not alter graduation requirements or assessment standards. It takes effect starting the 2025-2026 school year, with no mention of implementation costs or teacher training in the provided text.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of racism history curriculum, strengthening educational content on racial justice in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

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passed · Kentucky · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 124: AN ACT relating to sick leave for school district personnel.

Amend KRS 161.155 to allow school district employees to use sick leave for observance of religious holidays not otherwise included on the school's calendar if the employee submits a personal statement verifying the observance and gives advance notice to the district; permit local school districts to compensate teachers and employees prior to retirement for accrued accumulated sick leave above 15 days at up to 30% of the teacher's or employee's daily wage; provide that compensation for sick leave compensated prior to retirement shall not impact retirement benefits or contributions to the Teachers' Retirement System or County Employees Retirement System and shall be considered as payment for services rendered; require the Kentucky Department of Education to annually report to the Legislative Research Commission on school districts who have established a program to compensate unused sick leave prior to retirement; amend KRS 78.616 and 161.220 to conform and to make technical amendments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances teacher benefits by permitting compensation for accrued sick leave, improving retention and support for educators in K-12 schools.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows sick leave for religious holidays and compensates accrued sick leave above 15 days, expanding employee benefits for school personnel.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Paid Leave

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 421: AN ACT relating to interscholastic extracurricular activities.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to authorize participation in a public school interscholastic extracurricular activity by an at-home private school student; establish criteria for participation; require a parent, guardian, or teacher of an at-home private school student participating in a public school interscholastic activity to verify the student's academic progress; declare a public school student who does not make academic progress at a public school and withdraws and enters an at-home private school program ineligible for participation in an interscholastic activity for the remainder of the school year; provide that the Act may be cited as the Play Fair Kentucky Act.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by authorizing at-home private school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, strengthening inclusive opportunities within K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Kentucky · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 22: AN ACT relating to the dual credit scholarship program.

Amend KRS 164.786 to define "eligible high school apprentice" and "eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program"; include eligible registered teacher apprenticeship programs in the dual credit scholarship program; establish student and school district eligibility and participation requirements in the eligible registered teacher apprenticeship scholarship program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands dual credit scholarship to include teacher apprenticeship programs, increasing funding access for educator training and program participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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signed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 27, 2026

SB 2: AN ACT relating to school administrators and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 157.350 to provide that in order to be eligible to receive support education excellence in Kentucky funds a school district shall not provide the superintendent or any administrator a percentage pay increase greater than the average percentage pay increase provided to classroom teachers within the district; amend KRS 156.070 to conform.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestricts administrative pay increases to align with teacher pay, promoting fiscal responsibility in education budget allocation per KRS amendments.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents administrator pay increases exceeding teacher average, ensuring teacher compensation isn't outpaced. Supports educators' pay equity in school funding structure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 389: AN ACT relating to reading and writing in schools.

Amend KRS 158.307 to define "dysgraphia"; require the department to annually update the dyslexia toolkit; require the toolkit to include guidance on dysgraphia and strategies and other resources to be used for students displaying dyslexia and dysgraphia; require universal screeners and diagnostic tools be approved by the department; require each district to use evidence-based instructional strategies to provide intervention services; require school districts to report data to the department; amend KRS 164.304 to require postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs include instruction on the application and implementation of a multitiered system of supports by the 2027-2028 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based interventions for dyslexia/dysgraphia students, requires updated toolkit resources, and data reporting to enhance educational support for struggling learners.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Kentucky · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 105: AN ACT relating to reading and writing in schools.

Amend KRS 158.307 to define "dysgraphia"; require the department to annually update the dyslexia toolkit; require the toolkit to include guidance on dysgraphia and strategies and other resources to be used for students displaying dyslexia and dysgraphia; require universal screeners and diagnostic tools be approved by the department; require each district to use evidence-based instructional strategies to provide intervention services; require school districts to report data to the department; amend KRS 164.304 to require postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs include instruction on the application and implementation of a multitiered system of supports by the 2027-2028 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates dysgraphia resources, evidence-based interventions, and department-approved tools to support students with learning differences in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 17: AN ACT relating to one-time payments to school district employees, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.

Direct local school districts to provide a one-time payment of $2,000 to certified employees, excluding superintendents, in each year of the 2026-2028 biennium, and a one-time payment of $1,000 to classified employees in each year of the 2026-2028 biennium; appropriate $153 million from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund account in each year of the 2026-2028 biennium to the Learning and Results Services budget unit to provide the payments; authorize the Department of Education to pro rata reduce payments if the appropriation is insufficient; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $153M from Budget Reserve to fund school employee payments, directly increasing education budget appropriations without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides direct funding ($2,000/$1,000 payments) to school employees, explicitly appropriating $153M to support educators and classified staff during 2026-2028 biennium.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget School Funding Teachers

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