KentuckyHB 2532026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

18 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 7 mixed.

Dyslexia support in schools and training

KDE must provide a dyslexia toolkit with guidance, help, and training. Each local board must adopt a policy to find and help K–3 students with dyslexia. By the 2027–2028 year, teacher‑prep programs must teach dyslexia identification and evidence‑based supports. By June 30, 2028, and each year for five years, districts must report K–3 dyslexia screening, interventions, and progress‑monitoring data.

Legal protections and lower fees for guardians

Guardians have the same legal immunities and defenses as police and sheriffs for acts done while working. Local school boards are immune from claims that arise from a guardian’s actions. The Kentucky Law Enforcement Council cannot charge guardians higher testing or training fees than it charges other applicants.

Required safety trainings for school staff

By August 1, 2025, KDE sets a four‑year repeating training schedule. All certified district and public charter staff must complete four one‑hour trainings within 12 months of hire and at least every four years: active shooter response, child abuse prevention/recognition/reporting, evidence‑based suicide prevention, and a seizure self‑study. KDE keeps an approved list for abuse trainings. By May 1, 2027, KDE and EPSB create training on proper staff‑student conduct, grooming, and sexual misconduct. Current staff must finish it by June 30, 2027; new hires finish within 90 days (exempt if done within the prior five years).

Stronger K–5 reading and teacher training

The law bans the three‑cueing system and requires schools to use evidence‑based reading programs. KDE must keep an approved list of high‑quality reading curricula and interventions. By June 30, 2029, all K–5 educators must finish KDE‑approved science‑of‑reading training, and newly certified K–5 teachers must finish it within two years of first hire. EPSB must set teacher‑prep reading rules and prohibit three‑cueing in those programs. Starting in the 2030–2031 school year, the state notifies districts if they violate the three‑cueing ban.

Certified private schools: safety and transparency rules

Private, parochial, and church schools may choose to meet state curriculum, certification, textbook, and employment standards and apply to be certified. Certified nonpublic schools cannot use NDAs to hide misconduct involving minors. These schools cannot hire people with certain violent or felony sex convictions or with a substantiated child‑abuse or neglect finding; hiring someone with a misdemeanor sex conviction is up to the school. Nonpublic schools may require background and CA/N checks for adults with regular campus access, and State Police fees cannot exceed the actual processing cost.

Off-site moral instruction: rules and credit

Moral instruction must be off school property and provided at no cost to the district beyond minimal admin work. Student participation must be voluntary, with no pressure, and districts cannot treat students differently for joining or not. People with certain violent, sex, or child‑abuse records cannot provide instruction or transportation. Time spent in an approved session counts as present for school and for SEEK attendance, and students are not penalized for missed work.

Optional school guardians: who can serve

Local boards may choose to hire guardians for school safety, and must pay the costs if they do. A guardian must be certified by the Center for School Safety and meet strict requirements, including a current concealed‑carry license, clean background checks, medical and drug screens, KLEC background/psychological/polygraph exams, required DCJT courses, marksmanship, annual firearm proficiency, and SRO I training. If a district hires guardians, it must work with local police, the sheriff, state police, and the school security marshal on policy for duties, uniform, emergency command, and firearm type. The Act takes effect immediately.

More PD options for grades 7–12 staff

State professional development funds support training that matches school improvement plans and teachers’ growth plans. Schools can use these funds year-round for all staff and for parents on councils. For counselors in grades 7–12, four hours of the new training count toward the 21-hour yearly PD requirement. Boards or school councils may count the trade organization training as one of the four required PD days for teachers in grades 7–12, if it is offered.

Construction trades training for counselors

KDE can partner with building trades to train school counselors on trade careers. The program must cover pay, benefits, jobs, pre‑apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and career paths. Participating trade groups must offer ample annual training opportunities and pay the training costs. If the program asks, KDE lists it on the PD bulletin board.

More professional development help for educators

KDE runs an online bulletin board to compare PD programs and posts its own offerings. Each district must appoint a certified PD coordinator to share information and give help. When planning four PD days, districts focus on curriculum and instruction, and may use up to one day for district‑wide or mandated training. KDE also offers optional PD and teacher academies (as funding allows), and voluntary training on serving at‑risk students.

New lessons and testing rules for students

Middle and high schools must teach about the Holocaust and other genocides confirmed by a court. Starting in 2025–2026, all elementary schools must teach cursive so students are proficient by the end of grade five. Minimum graduation rules cannot require a readiness indicator or a minimum statewide test score, but valid test scores still appear on transcripts.

Reading programs must drop three-cueing

The law bans the three-cueing system in reading. Starting in the 2029–2030 school year, districts cannot use any reading curriculum or intervention that uses three-cueing. State and local providers also may not offer professional development that teaches three-cueing.

Safer hiring and open records in schools

The superintendent must remind staff each year to self‑report felony charges and substantiated child abuse or neglect findings. Districts cannot use nondisclosure agreements to hide misconduct involving students. Certain health and safety rules now apply to public charter schools too. The child abuse and neglect (CA/N) check request form is posted online for easier access. Districts may keep separate investigative records even if some items are removed from a personnel file.

Guardians pay their own training costs

School safety guardians are responsible for their certification, exams, training, and annual requirements. A local board may agree to pay instead, but the default is the guardian pays.

Off-site moral instruction option with safeguards

Local boards may approve off‑site moral instruction. With parent consent, a student is excused for up to one hour on one day each week, including travel. Students who do not attend must stay in school for supervised activities. Providers must submit a signed application, safety transport plan, proof of insurance, and agree to indemnify the district. If approved, named instructors and drivers must pass KSP/FBI checks and a clear CHFS CA/N check, and the provider pays the check costs.

Private schools tighten background checks

Certified nonpublic schools must run FBI and state checks plus a clear CHFS CA/N check for new certified hires and student teachers, with rechecks allowed every five years. Applications must clearly disclose that checks and a CHFS letter may be required. Schools may use probationary status to fill openings during a school term while checks are pending. Employment is confirmed only after clear results and no violent or sex crime records under Kentucky law.

Statewide student ID tied to Social Security

The state creates a student ID system based on Social Security numbers. If a student has no SSN or a parent does not want to provide it, the student gets a different unique ID. This improves record tracking but uses SSNs unless families opt out.

Tougher school hiring, reporting, and records

District job applications must warn about required KSP/FBI checks and a CHFS CA/N letter, and ask for residency history with dates and photo ID. Employees must report any felony charge within 7 days and must report any substantiated CHFS abuse/neglect finding; pay stays the same if reassigned during a pending case. Staff must report abuse allegations; principals must document and tell the superintendent; investigations must be completed. Allegation records stay in the personnel file during the investigation; if false or unsubstantiated, they are removed. Records tied to no charges, dismissals, or not‑guilty outcomes must be removed from personnel files.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

James Tipton
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Beverly Chester-Burton
Democrat • House
Daniel Grossberg
Democrat • House
Kevin Jackson
Republican • House
Pamela Stevenson
Democrat • House
Tina Bojanowski
Democrat • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 225 • No: 2

House vote • 3/31/2026

passed

Yes: 93 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/25/2026