Education

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; permit local school districts to develop and implement a local accountability system; require data publication on the local accountability system; require the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to provide technical assistance in the development of local accountability; permit KDE to incentivize local accountability; set the time frame for requiring local accountability in all local school districts; authorize the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate necessary administrative regulations; amend KRS 158.6453 to update terminology regarding academic standards; remove specific writing and editing and mechanics as required summative assessments; require KDE to incorporate a writing program into academic standards and professional development; require school-based decision making councils to adopt a writing program policy and publish it on the school's website; remove requirement for KDE to establish recommendations on using preliminary assessment data to identify students for advanced coursework; amend KRS 158.6455 to add individual student growth metric and student engagement as state indicators in the accountability system, remove quality of school climate and safety as state indicator, remove "status" and "change" metrics from state accountability system; amend KRS 158.6459, 164.7874, and 157.069 to conform.

Amend KRS 164.7879 to increase the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship base amount for each eligible grade point average; increase the supplemental award amounts; require a supplemental award for eligible Cambridge Advanced International scores; amend KRS 164.7882 to increase the award amount for an eligible student enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program; amend KRS 164.7874, 164.7881, 164.7884, and 164.7885 to conform; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2026.

Amend KRS 156.160 to require any course meeting the health requirement for high school graduation include information on direct the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to organ donation.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 171 to establish the Kids Love to Read Program; specify the program is for children in kindergarten through grade 5; require books to be sent to children's homes; require the Department for Libraries and Archives to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to administer the program; appropriate $500,000 in fiscal year 2027-2028 to support the program; APPROPRIATION.

HB 277 bans Kentucky public schools from selling or providing ultra-processed foods containing specific additives (like certain dyes and brominated oils) during the school day, starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It directly affects all Kentucky public schools and students by prohibiting these foods in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, and student-organized fundraisers held during school hours. The bill defines "ultra-processed food" by listing 11 specific additives with their chemical identifiers, but does not restrict food sales at off-property fundraisers or outside school hours. This policy change aims to limit student access to foods containing the listed additives during the school day.

HB 28 repeals Kentucky's Education Opportunity Account Program by removing its associated tax credit (KRS 141.522) from the state's tax code. This bill eliminates the specific tax credit that allowed taxpayers to claim benefits under the Education Opportunity Account Program. The change directly affects individuals or entities that previously claimed this credit, discontinuing the program's tax incentive component. The bill focuses solely on removing this provision from existing tax credit ordering rules, with no new program or funding established.

Amend KRS 158.196 to require the incorporation of instruction on the Civil Rights movement in the social studies academic standards for elementary through high school; specify minimum requirements; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require each public school that includes any of grades 6 through 12 to provide free menstrual products to students; require each local board of education to adopt policies for the distribution of free menstrual products; define "menstrual products"; appropriate to the Learning and Results Services budget unit with the Department of Education $2,000,000 in each fiscal year of the 2026-2028 fiscal biennium to provide menstrual products to students; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 43 to elect for the Commonwealth to participate in the qualified elementary and secondary education scholarship federal tax credit program; designate the Auditor of Public Accounts as the officer to submit the Commonwealth's election and list of scholarship granting organizations to the United States Secretary of the Treasury; require the Auditor to maintain the Commonwealth's list of scholarship granting organizations and maintain certain information on the Auditor's website; authorize the Auditor to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to establish the list; and authorize the Auditor to enter into agreements to assist with implementing the section.

Amend KRS 164.001 to remove the definition of "committee," "P-16 council," and "remedial education"; amend KRS 164.013 to conform; amend KRS 164.0211 to attach the Board of Student Body Presidents to the Council on Postsecondary Education for administration and organization purposes; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to codify the existing Commonwealth Education Continuum; establish governance and membership of the continuum; establish the duties of the continuum; provide that the administrative and support staff of the continuum shall be provided by the council; direct the continuum to submit an annual report and establish the contents of the report; amend KRS 164.330 to remove requirement for board of regents meetings to be held within 30 days of an appointment; amend various KRS sections to conform; repeal KRS 164.003, 164.004, 164.0285, 164.0286, 164.0287, 164.0268, and 164.033.