KentuckyHB 5622026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to alternative high school diplomas.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Easier paths to graduate high school

Schools that offer American Sign Language must accept it for the foreign language requirement. Schools that offer ROTC must accept it for the physical education requirement. Minimum graduation rules cannot require meeting a postsecondary readiness indicator or a minimum statewide test score. If the technical advisory committee finds a test score valid for individual students, that score appears on the student’s transcript.

Job help for alternate diploma holders

The Department of Workforce Development runs outreach to employers to encourage hiring people with a Kentucky alternate high school diploma. It keeps a public, county‑organized list of employers with opportunities for these job seekers. Employers can ask to be added to or removed from the list.

More college aid for students with disabilities

The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship now covers students in comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs who have an alternate or modified diploma or an intellectual disability. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a Kentucky resident, not already have an associate degree, complete the FAFSA and the scholarship application, and enroll in an eligible program. KEES is also available to these students if they enroll in a CTP at a participating Kentucky school. For KEES, alternate diploma holders after June 30, 2012, and students with intellectual disabilities who attended public high school after June 30, 2008, are eligible.

New diplomas for students with disabilities

Beginning with the 2027–2028 school year, students whose IEP says they cannot take the regular statewide test can earn an alternate high school diploma. It uses a modified curriculum and an alternate assessment chosen for the student. The law also creates a modified high school diploma for similar students who are not counted in the federal adjusted cohort rate. When an eligible student completes the Board of Education’s modified curriculum and individualized course of study, the student receives the alternate diploma.

Schools must teach cursive and Holocaust history

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, elementary schools teach cursive writing. Courses are designed so students are proficient by the end of grade 5. Public middle and high schools must teach about the Holocaust and other genocides that a court has determined happened.

New student ID tied to Social Security

The state uses a uniform student identification number based on each student’s Social Security number. If a student has no Social Security number, or a parent will not disclose it, the state issues a different ID number. This creates a single statewide way to identify students.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Timmy Truett
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Al Gentry
Democrat • House
Beverly Chester-Burton
Democrat • House
Bill Wesley
Republican • House
Chad Aull
Democrat • House
Chris Fugate
Republican • House
Daniel Fister
Republican • House
Deanna Gordon
Republican • House
Daniel Grossberg
Democrat • House
David Hale
Republican • House
Chris Lewis
Republican • House
Jim Gooch Jr.
Republican • House
John Blanton
Republican • House
Josh Branscum
Republican • House
Kevin Jackson
Republican • House
Kimberly Poore Moser
Republican • House
Myron Dossett
Republican • House
Michael Sarge Pollock
Republican • House
Patrick Flannery
Republican • House
Ryan Bivens
Republican • House
Shane Baker
Republican • House
Chris Lewis
Republican • House
Shawn McPherson
Republican • House
Tina Bojanowski
Democrat • House
Thomas Huff
Republican • House
Tom Smith
Republican • House
Vanessa Grossl
Republican • House
William Lawrence
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 227 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2026

passed

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/19/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026