KentuckyHB 7272026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

21 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 4 costs, 4 mixed.

Help homeless students keep school credits

If a student is homeless under federal law, schools must accept and award credits, including partial credit. Schools must try to let the student finish required courses before the next school year when possible. If a student transfers after finishing the second year of high school, the prior district may award the diploma when its requirements are met. Students are exempt from extra local requirements that go beyond the state minimums in these cases.

CTE staff pay parity and protections

The state board sets personnel rules for the Office of Career and Technical Education and state vocational schools. Employees who move between systems keep accrued annual, compensatory, and sick leave. The commissioner is the appointing authority and must confirm local hiring recommendations. A yearly salary schedule for certified or equivalent staff is submitted to the Governor, and annual raises must be at least equal to those funded for other teachers. State‑operated vocational centers cannot cut a funded teaching position mid‑year when students are enrolled.

Guaranteed preschool for at‑risk children

Districts must offer a half‑day preschool program for children at risk of educational failure who are age four by August 1. A child is eligible at age three or four by August 1 if the family meets free‑lunch rules. Other four‑year‑olds may be served if space is available.

No test score required to graduate

Graduation cannot require a minimum score on a statewide test or a postsecondary readiness indicator. Valid individual-level state test scores may still appear on transcripts when the state’s technical advisory committee certifies them.

Smaller special ed classes and caseloads

The law caps special education class sizes by disability. For example, autism classes are capped at 8; hearing impairment at 6; and specific learning disability at 10 in K–5 and 15 in grades 6–12. With a paraprofessional present, up to two extra students may be added. Teachers also have caseload caps by exceptionality (for example, autism 15; emotional-behavioral disability 15; mild mental disability 15 in K–5 and 20 in grades 6–12). Speech‑language pathologists follow separate state limits, and collaborative service models have their own caps.

More state-required school reports

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department and state board may require many reports to run federal and state programs. Examples include funding, transportation, attendance, personnel surveys, calendars, home/hospital services, property transactions, alternative education, and support monitoring. This increases reporting work for districts.

Summer learning and teacher computer programs ended

The law repeals statutes that backed summer learning programs and a teachers’ computer purchase program. This ends the legal authority and related supports those laws provided.

Lower-cost background checks for school jobs

You pay no more than the actual processing cost for fingerprint and background check fees from Kentucky State Police, the FBI, or the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Job applications must clearly state that state and national criminal-history checks and a child abuse/neglect (CA/N) letter are required. Applications must ask for your prior states of residence and require a photo ID.

Money follows early graduation, plus scholarships

When the state sets school funding levels, it counts students who graduate early. Districts get one‑half of the state per‑pupil base funding for each early graduate. Starting in 2015–16 and every year after, the state also sends one‑half of the state per‑pupil amount for each early graduate to KHEAA’s early graduation scholarship trust fund.

Temporary transfer for staff charged with felonies

If a school employee is charged with a felony, the superintendent may move the employee to another job to avoid disruption. The employee keeps the same pay. The transfer ends if charges are dismissed, the employee is found not guilty, the employee is terminated, or the superintendent ends it. This also applies to out‑of‑state charges that would be felonies in Kentucky, and the transfer is not proof of guilt.

Easier property sales and funding fixes

A board can sell or transfer district property to another government at or above fair market value without bidding, using an independent appraisal or a national valuation. Districts can ask the state to adjust funding if a certified property assessment change equals at least 1% of the district’s SEEK allotment as of March 1. Any adjustment is capped at the net state‑aid loss, depends on available funds, and requires documentation.

Holocaust lessons, cursive, ASL option

All public middle and high schools must teach the Holocaust and court‑recognized genocides. Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, all elementary schools must teach cursive so students are proficient by the end of fifth grade. If a school offers American Sign Language, it counts for foreign language graduation and curriculum requirements.

New picks for state board student, teacher

The state board now picks its nonvoting teacher and student members from the seven Supreme Court districts on a rotating basis. The student must be a high school sophomore at the time of appointment. Both serve one‑year terms, with selection rules set by regulation.

Statewide student ID numbers for schools

The state board creates a student ID system based on Social Security numbers. If a student has no SSN or parents do not disclose it, the system assigns a distinct student ID. Public schools across Kentucky use this ID system.

Workplace ethics lessons and diploma seals

Districts must teach workplace ethics to all K–12 students, including adaptability, hard work, initiative, academic and technology skills, reliability, staying drug‑free, and teamwork. Every odd‑numbered year, school boards and local workforce boards set local indicators for middle and high school. Boards must award a diploma seal, certificate, card, or other symbol to students who meet the basic indicators.

Vision and dental checks for young students

If your child is age 3, 4, 5, or 6 and starts public school, you must give the school proof of a vision exam by January 1 of that first year. If your child is age 5 or 6, you must also submit a dental screening or exam by January 1. If a non-dentist finds a possible issue, the child must be referred to a dentist.

Stricter rules for school board service

To run for a local board, you must be at least 24, a Kentucky citizen for three years, a district voter, and file proof of a diploma or equivalency. You cannot hold another elected office, have certain business interests with the board, or have been removed for cause. Board members face removal for misconduct after election. Members must complete annual in‑service training hours in topics like ethics, open meetings, finance, and superintendent evaluation. Most boards have five members (seven in certain merged counties), elect a chair and vice chair for up to two years, and review budget procedures when officers are chosen.

New teacher hiring rules and fees

The state runs one online educator job system. Districts and charters must post every opening with open and close dates and a nondiscrimination policy. Superintendents must post jobs at least 15 days before hiring, but can seek a fast waiver; the state must answer in two working days. New hires, nonfaculty coaches, student teachers, SBDM parent members, and some service providers must pass state and FBI checks plus a child abuse/neglect check, with limited exceptions. If a job is still open after July 31 or opens midyear, a superintendent can make a probationary hire while checks are pending; the job ends if a sex crime or violent‑offender record appears. The Education Professional Standards Board may charge reasonable certificate fees to fund certification, discipline, and the placement system.

Caps on class sizes and teacher loads

Class sizes are capped: K–3 at 24, grade 4 at 28, grades 5–6 at 29, and grades 7–12 at 31. Classroom teachers are limited to 150 pupil‑hours per day; virtual teachers to 300. Superintendents can request temporary exemptions for unusual cases, with state review in 45 business days and a plan to reduce sizes by the next year.

Education oversight and reporting changes

The Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee has eight members with two-year terms through January 1, 2027. Starting then, members are appointed in January of odd-numbered years, the Senate President and House Speaker name co-chairs, and vacancies must be filled within 30 days. When lawmakers are not in session, the panel can let the Department or Board require a temporary new report; that power ends when the next regular session adjourns. Sections 21–26 take effect July 1, 2026 to give reporting relief for the 2026–2027 school year. Nonvoting student and teacher members already picked stay through June 30, 2027, then a new selection process applies.

Tighter controls on school borrowing and leases

Before financing a project, boards must get public competitive bids to set project and financing costs. They need state approval to mortgage, lien, or transfer title to a school building, and leases of financed facilities also need approval and public advertising. Rent and debt service are due at least 10 days before interest is due; if missed and notified at least three days prior, the state intercepts district funds to pay. Technology bonds, notes, or leases cannot run longer than seven years or the equipment’s useful life. Districts may issue general obligation bonds under state bond rules.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Steve Riley
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Kevin Jackson
Republican • House
Chris Lewis
Republican • House
Stephen West
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 214 • No: 13

House vote • 4/15/2026

passed

Yes: 82 • No: 13

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 38 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2026