Education

Amend KRS 157.320 to define "at risk" and "teaming partner"; amend KRS 157.3175 to require each local school district to provide preschool to 4 year olds who reside in a household with an income at or below 160% of the poverty level until the end of the 2030-2031 school year and beginning with the 2031-2032 school year, require each local school district to provide preschool to each 4 year old who is at risk; provide requirements for program guidelines; require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish and maintain a statewide unified data system; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157 to require local school districts to maintain certification from the Head Start director that Head Start is fully utilized; provide penalties; require local school districts to prepare and submit preschool expansion plans to the deparment; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations regarding preschool expansion; require the department to submit a report the the Legislative Research Commission annually regarding preschool expansion.

Amend KRS 156.557 to permit a superintendent to initiate summative evaluations; require that summative evaluations be provided to the local board of education.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to create the Promise Program to provide scholarships to eligible students of a teacher preparation program; define terms; specify the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority may provide promise awards to eligible students; require 5 years of qualified teaching service; require repayment if services are not rendered; specify that failure to meet repayment obligations shall be cause for revocation of a teaching certificate.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 197 to establish the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Prison Education Program within the Department of Corrections in partnership with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) to provide inmates with job training; require KCTCS to construct a facility to house the program at Northpoint Training Center; establish convictions that preclude participation in the program; require the parties to enter into a memorandum of agreement establishing the responsibilities of each party; amend KRS 196.281 to establish entitlement to a certificate of employability upon successful completion of the program and require reporting by the department; amend KRS 335B.020 to establish that a person shall not be disqualified from public employment or obtaining an occupational license solely because of previous criminal conviction and obtaining a certificate of employment from the department shall constitute rebuttable evidence of rehabilitation and fitness for the occupation; amend KRS 355B.030 to remove a conviction of a Class A felony, Class B felony, or any other felony offense other than a conviction that would qualify the individual as a registrant as defined in KRS 17.500 as supportive of a rebuttable presumption of a connection between that conviction and a license issuance request.

HB 769 extends the eligibility period for Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships (KEES) from 5 to 8 years after high school graduation. This change directly affects students who received KEES scholarships, allowing them more time to use their benefits while enrolled in postsecondary education. The bill amends KRS 164.7881 to update the expiration timeline and ensures related provisions remain consistent. It does not alter scholarship amounts, GPA requirements, or other eligibility conditions - only the timeframe for using the award. The change aims to provide greater flexibility for students pursuing degrees over longer periods.

Amend KRS 161.048 to modify and reestablish alternative teacher certification options as alternative routes; establish the eligibility requirements of alternative routes; delete Option 2 certification; establish a route for current professional certificate holders to expand certification and the eligibility requirements; require the Education Professional Standards Board to maintain and publish a list of academic majors, academic minors, and graduate degree academic content areas and the corresponding areas for which they shall satisfy certification requirements; make current professional certificate holders eligible to expand certification through any alternative route; require holders of professional certificates under specific routes complete training requirements to be eligible for the first renewal of the certificate; provide that the Education Professional Standards Board may require a passing score on a professional skills assessment; amend KRS 161.032 and 164.757 to conform; repeal KRS 161.049.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to prohibit public postsecondary education institutions from requiring a student who is within 6 months of turning 18 years of age or older to reside in student housing; provide exceptions.

Amend KRS 161.028 to authorize the Education Professional Standards Board to use proceeds from certification fees for the development and maintenance of the Kentucky Educator Placement Service System (KEPS); amend KRS 160.152 to require KEPS to allow a potential applicant to create and submit applications to multiple school districts; make technical changes.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to require the Council on Postsecondary Education to promulgate administrative regulations to prohibit the use of public funds towards a degree in a low-earning outcome program; require the council to provide an annual report on the implementation of the prohibition to the Legislative Research Commission.

Amend KRS 158.070 to provide that certified school personnel shall be compensated for professional development activities required outside of the days scheduled in the school calendar or regularly scheduled hours in the school work day.