MAY 2026
A PUBLICATION OF THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
‘Education
session’ recap
2 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
KSBA CONSIDERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
TAKE NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PEOPLE ARE TALKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
BEYOND THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
EDUCATION BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
HONOR ROLL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
VOLUME 31 | NUMBER 8
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Follow KSBA for education news, association updates, upcoming events and more
/company/ksba
ksba.org
8
Reaching the PEAK
An effort to reimagine alternative
education in Shelby County Schools has not
only led to improving student outcomes,
but it has also won the district KSBA’s
PEAK Award, the association’s highest
district honor. See how the district reached
the top.
12 Education dominates session
The 2026 Legislative Session has been
dubbed by some as the “education
session” with all five of the Senate’s top
five priority bills focusing on the subject.
Find out which bills made it to the finish
line and how education fared in the new
state budget.
21 On the move
With the school year wrapping
up, many districts have hired new
superintendents, while other leaders
have announced their retirements.
/KSBAnews
PG8
@KSBAnews
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 3
PG 21
PG 12
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Pamela Morehead,
President
Eminence Ind.
Jeremy Luckett,
President-elect
Owensboro Ind.
Karen Byrd,
Immediate Past President
Boone Co.
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
Chris Cook,
Crittenden Co.
Susan Duncan,
Scott Co.
Carmela Fletcher-Green,
Montgomery Co.
John Matt Fourshee,
Carlisle Co.
Joanna Freels,
Shelby Co.
Debbie Hammers,
Butler Co.
Angela Parsons-Woods,
Rockcastle Co.
Ricky Pennington,
Morgan Co.
Trey Pippen,
Daviess Co.
Brandon Rutherford,
Madison Co.
David Turner,
Walton-Verona Ind.
Nancy Uhls,
Simpson Co.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Tom Bell,
Christian Co.
Jason Collins,
Anderson Co.
Pat Hall,
Campbellsville Ind.
Ruschelle Hamilton,
Breathitt Co.
Jimmy Hinkle,
Barbourville Ind.
Jesica Jehn,
Kenton Co.
Vanessa Lucas,
Breckinridge Co.
Brenda Mattox,
Nicholas Co.
Kathleen Price,
Martin Co.
Mark Rich,
Edmonson Co.
Christine Thompson,
Livingston Co.
Allie Wright,
Trimble Co.
4 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
When the winning horse crosses
the finish line on the first Saturday
in May, the celebration begins. The
horse, trainer, owners and jockey
are all euphoric.
The nearly 200,000 people at
Churchill Downs and the tens of
millions watching on TV witness
the spectacle of the horse being
draped with a blanket of roses and
the governor presenting the trophy
in the Winner’s Circle.
For most people, the two-minute sprint around the track is the
whole story. But winning the Kentucky Derby doesn’t begin on
the first Saturday in May.
By the time the field of horses step onto the track at
Churchill Downs, the outcome has largely been shaped by
years of preparation.
The journey to the Winner’s Circle starts before the 3-year-
old Thoroughbred is even born. Bloodlines are studied, with
breeders aiming for the right balance of speed, stamina and
temperament. Trainers, owners and jockeys spend the next
two years developing that potential – building endurance,
selecting the right races and doing whatever else it takes to
ensure the horse peaks at the right time.
What looks like a sudden burst of speed as the horse runs
for the roses is, in truth, the visible result of disciplined,
intentional work long before the starting gate opened.
Like the Derby, the 60-day legislative session is a sprint. This
year the General Assembly crossed the finish line on April 15
when the lawmakers adjourned the session sine die, a Latin
phrase they use that means “without a day” – signaling the
end of the session.
The bills have all been filed, debated, amended, merged and
finally decided. Public education came out ahead in some
ways, such as receiving a modest increase in funding while
many state agencies will face a 7% cut. At the same time,
other measures chipped away at local board governance,
reduced local boards’ taxing authority and imposed
unfunded mandates.
With the session adjourned, it may now feel like the race
is over. But if we take a lesson from horse racing, we
know better. The next race, the 2027 legislative session, is
effectively underway.
What happens now, in the “interim” months, will determine
what happens when lawmakers return to Frankfort in January.
This is the training session – it’s when the groundwork is laid.
When legislators return home to their districts, they are no
longer surrounded by the intensity of the Capitol. They have
time to listen, to reflect, and to see firsthand how policies play
out in their communities. This makes the interim the best time
for building relationships and deepening understanding.
It is when the most important stories can be told.
Invite your legislators into your schools. Ask them to attend
a school board meeting. Let them see the successes that don’t
always make headlines: a literacy program that is working, a
career pathway that is changing students’ lives, a teacher who
is going above and beyond. These moments are the equivalent
of those steady early morning workouts that build strength
over time.
But just as important, is candor about the challenges facing
your districts.
Every trainer knows that ignoring a weakness doesn’t make
it disappear. If a horse lacks stamina or struggles in crowded
fields, that has to be addressed early. In the same way,
policymakers need a clear picture of the constraints districts
face – whether it’s facility needs, transportation costs or the
ongoing strain of inflation. The interim provides the space for
real conversations and practical problem-solving, without the
urgency of an impending vote.
Now is the time to get to know your senator and
representative, not just as a policymaker but as a fellow
elected official. Make sure they know, just as they serve a
constituency, you, too, are trying to be a good steward of
public resources while providing an opportunity for every
student in your community to receive an excellent education.
The agenda for the upcoming race to sine die is already being
set. If public education is to have strong finish in 2027, the
preparation starts now.
KSBA CONSIDERATIONS
John Powell,
Staff Attorney, KSBA
Winning the race before it’s run
Kenton County board member
appointed to KSBA board
Jesica Jehn, a Kenton County Schools
board member, has been appointed to
the KSBA Board of Directors by KSBA
President Pamela Morehead.
Jehn fills the Northern Kentucky
Region director’s seat which be
came empty after Gallatin County
Schools board member Becky Bur
gett’s resignation.
Jehn has served on the Kenton County
board since 2013; during that time she
has served as both chair and vice chair.
She has also served on the district’s
Community-based Accountability Sys
tem Committee for five years.
In addition to her board service, Jehn
has served on the Immanuel Church
Trustees Committee for three years and
on the board of Sonshine Preschool for
five years. She has also served on her
church’s Children and Family Ministry
Team for eight years.
Jehn
McCarty
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 5
TAKE NOTE
McCarty named Board Team
Development director
Election season approaches
This fall nearly half of all school board
member seats will be on the ballot. The
filing deadline for those seeking elec
tion or reelection to a Kentucky school
board is June 2. This year, on most
county boards, three seats will be up for
election. On most independent district
boards, two seats will be on the ballot.
Board members who have been
appointed may also have to run for
election depending on the timing of the
vacancy. Under state law, “any vacancy
having an unexpired term of one year or
more on Aug. 1 after the vacancy occurs
shall be filled for the unexpired term by
an election to be held at the next regular
election after the vacancy occurs.”
Districts should contact their county
clerk to ensure that candidates who are
seeking election to an unexpired term
are clearly distinguished on the bal
lot, especially in independent districts.
While independent districts seats are
at-large and listed as one race on the
ballot, an unexpired term needs to listed
as a separate race on the ballot.
Kentucky School
Boards Association
260 Democrat Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601
800-372-2962 | ksba.org
The Kentucky School Advocate is published 10 times a year by
the Kentucky School Boards Association. Copies are mailed to
KSBA members as part of their association membership.
Executive Director: Kerri Schelling
Communications Director: Brenna Kelly
Communications Manager: Brian Wilkerson
For more information on filing
for election, see KSBA’s 2026
Election Guide.
Matt McCarty, who has worked at
KSBA for more than a decade, has been
named the association’s director of
Board Team Development. A familiar
face to board members, McCarty has
served in various roles with the as
sociation, including creative services
manager and, most recently, engage
ment manager.
Among his duties, McCarty led the
association’s Affiliate Member program
and managed the conference trade
shows. As engagement manager, he
helped improve many aspects of KSBA
member and stakeholder experience
and coordinated the Superintendent
Search Service.
McCarty received a Bachelor of Arts
in Journalism from Eastern Kentucky
University and a Master of Public
Administration with a Nonprofit
Management Certificate from Northern
Kentucky University.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“This partnership opens
doors for our students in ways
that will have a lasting impact. By
expanding access to college coursework
and bringing university resources directly
to our campus, we are giving our students
a head start on their futures while keeping
opportunity close to home.”
Kevin Stull, Garrard County Schools superintendent, on the new partnership
between his district and Thomas More University.
From the Northern Kentucky Tribune
Mark Kopp
“Collaboration is
one of the most
important things
that we can do
in society. When
you collaborate
and you work together, you can
get things done. The fact that these
three entities, these three boards,
are collaborating, working together
to try to better the community,
we’re all super excited about that.”
Mark Kopp, Frankin County Schools
superintendent, highlighting the cooperation
between the district and local governments to
build a new natatorium and wellness center.
From the State Journal, Frankfort
Taylor Everett
“The role of the
board is to intake
information from
all parties they
represent, their
personal expertise
and the recommendations of the
district. From there, we should
ask thoughtful questions, have
active discussion with other board
members and all these things should
lead to the ultimate vote we make.
The ultimate responsibility is not
just on the superintendent; it's on
the board as well, which is why
we can't just say ‘yes’ to every
suggestion.”
Taylor Everett, Jefferson County Schools board
member, discussing the board’s role in helping to
direct the school system.
From WDRB, Louisville
Kyle Estes
“Our culinary arts
studio includes
a complete
commercial
culinary kitchen
and a residential
kitchen combined in one space with
a classroom area. The thoughtfully
designed addition allows students
to work with professional-grade
equipment while also learning
in a setting that mirrors a home
kitchen.”
Kyle Estes, Russellville Independent Schools
superintendent, highlighting the district’s new
culinary arts facility.
From the Franklin Favorite
Carrie Truitt
“I love the support
the students
give each other
at Lebanon
Elementary
School. I'm proud
of the fact that this is our culture.”
Carrie Truitt, Marion County Schools board
chair, praising the school’s SHIELD team, which
supports inclusiveness and an end to bullying.
From the Lebanon Enterprise
6 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“It was a 10- to 15-year cost
savings for Fleming County
Schools to add this number of buses.
So that really equates into money
we can put right back into the
classroom, like we try to do.”
Brian Creasman, Fleming County Schools superintendent, citing the
benefits of having 24 electric buses, which save the district up to
$200,000 annually in fuel costs.
From Spectrum News 1
Beth Hargis
“Through CTE,
we are preparing
students not
only for today’s
workforce, but
the workforce of
tomorrow.”
Beth Hargis, Kentucky Department of
Education associate commissioner for career
and technical education, on Going Pro signing
day during which KDE and the Kentucky
Community and Technical College System
recognized high school seniors for beginning
their careers with Kentucky companies.
From Kentucky Teacher, KDE
Christel Nall
“This is what
community
support looks like:
compassion in
action, awareness
turned into
impact. Every donation, every
share, every conversation matters.”
Christel Nall, Hickman County Schools director
of Special Education, praising the purchase of
specialized backpacks for police officers to help
them communicate with individuals with special
needs during times of crisis.
From Facebook
Susan Beatty
“We want to give
everybody the
opportunity to
experience those
careers, right? You
don’t know until
you’ve experienced it, whether you
like it or not.”
Susan Beatty, Western Kentucky Educational
Cooperative GEAR UP program director,
on how the co-op’s $1.9 million grant from
the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development
Authority will allow it to establish the WKEC
Nuclear Energy Education & Workforce Plan,
which will develop programs in 12 districts to
prepare students for jobs in the nuclear sector.
From WKMS-FM Radio, Murray
Brent Billings
“What they’re
doing is what I
did as a volunteer
firefighter when I
started my career.
They’re coming
out with real-world certificates
… (that) we require with the fire
department to be hired within your
first year.”
Brent Billings, Berea Independent Schools
fire sciences instructor, during a Berea City
Council presentation honoring graduates of
the district’s new fire science program.
From the Berea Citizen
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 7
8 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
Transforming alternative education, Shelby
Academy wins 2026 PEAK Award
By Brian Wilkerson | Staff writer
Walking down a hall at Shelby
Academy, Principal Ben Roberts talked
with pride about what his students and
teachers have accomplished. He pointed
to a bulletin board featuring local
veterans reimagined as comic book
heroes, a lesson that paired students
with those who served their country.
When the veterans saw the
students’ work, “it was truly
emotional,” Roberts said. “They just
felt so loved and needed, but yet, the
kids had a huge part in this, so they
felt that love as well.”
A few steps later, he stopped
to talk with Leland Montesino, a
The student hesitated, and Roberts
added, “I’ll do it with you, so that means
we’ll be together.”
As Leland headed away, Roberts called
after him, “I’m proud of you, man.”
At the other end of the school,
a different type of lesson was
underway. Along a classroom wall were
some newly hatched chicks, ducks and a
goose, the start of a three-year plan that
will grow to include a greenhouse, visits
to a farmers market and more.
For teacher Caytie Burgin, the work
extends well beyond the school day. She
checks on the young animals nightly and
brings them home on weekends, until
student who had just completed the
Academy’s GED Program.
“At the next (school) board meeting,
are you going to be a part of it?” Roberts
asked. “We’ll have a celebration” about
reaching the milestone.
Shelby Academy Principal Ben Roberts talks with student Leland Montesino, who recently completed the Academy’s GED Program.
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 9
they’re old enough not to need such
close supervision.
Reimagine alternative educaton
The Shelby Academy, designed
to reimagine alternative education
in Shelby County Schools, consists
of three academic programs under
one roof. And even a short visit
makes clear that the lofty goals
school leaders set four years ago
are more than being met. For that
considerable accomplishment,
the district received the Kentucky
School Boards Association’s 2026
PEAK (Public Education Achieves in
Kentucky) Award.
The award, the association’s highest
district honor, is designed to highlight
outstanding Kentucky public school
efforts in order to promote the
positive impact of public education
across the state.
First announced in February at
KSBA’s annual conference, KSBA
Executive Director Kerri Schelling and
President Pamela Morehead presented
the award to the district during a March
board meeting.
During the presentation, Morehead
said the award recognizes “excellence
at the highest level – achievement
made possible through thoughtful
planning, hard work, determination and
meaningful results.”
The Shelby Academy began to take
shape in 2022, when Shelby County
Schools board members Brenda Jackson
and Joanna Freels and other district
leaders sought ways to improve its
alternative-education programs. Over
four months, they visited schools across
Kentucky to gather data and insights
from educators, students and parents.
“Not every student fits into the mold
of being able to work in a traditional
setting, and the previous system made
students feel marginalized as the ‘bad
kids,’” Jackson said.
In a nomination letter, board
members wrote that the Academy
is proof of what can happen when
elected school leaders “move beyond
traditional governance roles to become
active partners in designing educational
solutions that meet the diverse needs”
of students.
The school board had hoped to enroll
40 students when the Academy first
opened its doors and grow to more
than 100 within three years. Instead,
it surpassed most long-term goals in a
matter of months and has since taught
more than 300 students.
“The school has exceeded our wildest
dreams,” Freels said. “We have the right
Shelby Academy student Noah Ames holds a
baby duck, which is being used with other fledg
ling birds as part of a multi-year lesson about
agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Photo provided
KSBA President Pamela Morehead and Executive Director Kerri Schelling present the 2026 PEAK Award to the Shelby County school board and along
with Shelby Academy administrators, teachers and staff during the March board meeting.
10 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
KSBA President Pamela Morehead helps present this year’s PEAK Award to the Shelby County
school board for its support of the Shelby Academy, home to the district’s reimagined alternative
education programs,, as board member and KSBA Board of Directors member Joanna Freels looks on.
teachers, the right administrators, and
the right programs that allow students
to have their needs met outside of a
traditional school.”
Roberts said he is thankful for the
board’s support.
“They have been here through the
entire process. They have made sure
that if I asked for something, they did
everything in their power to make sure
I got it,” he said. “But their support
alone meant more to me than they’ll
probably ever understand. Multiple
board members come over here to
visit regularly, which you just don’t see
very much.”
The program has drawn interest from
as many as 20 other districts, mirroring
Shelby County’s own journey four years
ago, he said.
‘A game changer’
The Academy houses three programs
that build on the district’s prior work
in alternative education and includes
students from 6th through 12th
grades. Cultivate Virtual Learning is
the largest of the three, and traces
its roots to 2015, when it began
providing students a more flexible and
personalized education.
One of its first students came from a
farming family needing a class schedule
better fitted to their livelihood. Others
since then are from families counting on
them for care or income, or are young
parents themselves. Some students are
taking advanced college classes or are
often out of town while participating in
sporting events.
Roberts said the school is also seeing
a growing influx of seniors who have
already met most of their academic
requirements and see the school as a
way to continue learning on their own
time while beginning to pursue a career.
Parent Amie Elam called Cultivate a
“game changer for our family.” A single
mother, she tried homeschooling her
daughter Jenna, after she struggled with
distractions and other difficulties in
middle school. Cultivate changed that
dynamic, and, Elam said, its “engaging,
hands-on activities have been
wonderful for her academically and
transformative for her mental health.”
Student Asher Lambert said he came
to Cultivate “because I heard it was
pretty good, and this does have a lot of
flexibility, as I only have to go one day a
week.”
Completing school work online gives
him a chance to provide care that he
said his father needs.
Ascension Alternative Academy and
the GED Program are the academy’s
two other components. The former
serves students on suspension, who
attend through court referrals and
those who need to make up credits. The
latter program allows students who
might have dropped out to obtain their
GED. More than a dozen have already
obtained their high school equivalency
degree, including a student who
officials say was the first 17-year-old in
Kentucky to do so.
Ascension students’ parents are
thankful because their children “were
struggling, and we were able to kind of
bring light into some dark times and
really help,” Roberts said.
The mix of middle and high school
students in the same classroom who are
learning at different levels does have its
challenges, Roberts said.
“You have to have a very special group
of teachers that can really adapt, but yet
get to all the standards,” he said.
In addition to the traditional in-
person and online learning, the
Academy’s lessons extend across the
community, thanks to its partnership
with the Kentucky Community and
Technical College System and 18 other
businesses and organizations. Students
can take part in technical training and
often are involved with extracurricular
activities such as park cleanups,
working with a local church to assemble
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 11
“Not every student
fits into the mold of
being able to work in a
traditional setting, and
the previous system
made students feel
marginalized as the
‘bad kids.’”
Brenda Jackson, Shelby County
Schools board member
In 2027, KSBA will
celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the
PEAK Award.
Districts are encouraged to
nominate a program that will
allow KSBA to help promote
the positive impact of public
education in Kentucky by
highlighting outstanding
public school efforts
designed to enhance student
learning. Nominations will
open in the fall.
comfort bags for children in foster
care and reading with residents at an
assisted-living community.
In their nomination letter, Academy
teachers say these off-campus
experiences are designed to “deepen
understanding, build transferable
skills and help shape well-rounded
global citizens.”
Beyond that, the Shelby Academy also
offers counseling and therapy sessions
for students.
“Academy isn’t a place where students
are sent when they fail. It’s a place
where students find their path,” Officials
wrote in their award application.
Schelling alluded to that sentiment
in March when she helped present
the award.
“Every student deserves access to the
best education possible,” she said. “That
belief drives the work we all do each
day. While educational opportunities
may look different from one community
to the next, the commitment remains
the same.”
Shelby Academy students often venture beyond the classroom to broaden their learning opportuni
ties, which include trips to learn more about cattle and agriculture. Photo provided
12 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
Slight increases in SEEK funding, most
education funding flat in new budget
By Brian Wilkerson | Staff writer
While many state agencies will face 4
and then 7% cuts in the new two-year
state budget approved by the General
Assembly during the recent legislative
session, public education funding is set
to receive a modest increase.
House Bill 500, filed by Rep. Jason
Petrie, R-Elkton, the Executive Branch
budget, provides most of the funding
for public education; however this
year lawmakers also spread education
funding and revenue changes across
several bills. In HB 757 lawmakers
imposed new limits on local school
boards’ ability to impose taxes, while in
HB 900 and SB 197 lawmakers funded
$1.7 billion worth of one-time projects,
with two dozen projects benefiting
specific school districts.
At 42% of the total spending plan,
public education is by far the single
largest sector of state spending in the
budget. The House and Senate mostly
agreed from the start about how to
fund public education, however, neither
chamber supported Gov. Andy Beshear’s
plan to fund across the board educator
raises and universal preschool.
Overall, the new budget appropriates
$3.5 billion annually for SEEK, the
education funding distribution formula,
during the next two fiscal years, up
from the current $3.37 billion. Per-pupil
spending will rise from $4,586 this year
to $4,626 in 2026-27 and $4,792 in
2027-28.
However, superintendents have
questioned whether this will be
enough to cover increasing costs to
school districts. Corbin Independent
Schools Superintendent Travis
Wilder, for example, told his board,
according to the News Journal, that
the increase in per-pupil spending
“really doesn’t even cover the costs
that we have as a district.”
Adding to that challenge is the fact
that the budget does not increase
school transportation funding, which
will remain at $398 million annually,
well below actual costs that the
Kentucky Department of Education said
is just below $500 million – meaning
the state is paying just under 80% of
the full cost of transportation although
state law requires 100% funding.
Other flatlined programs include
preschool, family resource &
youth services centers, extended
school services, gifted and talented
education and the Kentucky Center
for School Safety.
State assistance for school health
insurance costs will be maintained
at the same level next year, but rise
by $200 million in 2027-28. An early
House proposal that could have caused
a steep premium increase for school
and government employees was not
included in the enacted budget.
Districts will receive $135 million
extra over the biennium to assist
with contributions to the Teachers
Retirement System, and there will
also be an increase in state support
for school resource officers (SRO). For
the first time, private schools will be
eligible for SRO funding.
The budget provides equalization for
recallable nickels passed before Jan. 1
of this year, but a new law makes clear
Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, presents House Bill
500, the executive branch budget, on the House
floor on Feb. 26. Provided by LRC
The ‘education session’
The 2026 session of the General Assembly has been dubbed by some as the ‘education session.’
Before the session began, Senate President Robert Stivers told reporters that the session would largely focus on K-12 education.
Indeed, five of the Senate’s top 10 priority bills addressed issues relating to K-12 public education.
When asked early in the session about the swath of priority education bills, Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, told the Kentucky
Lantern that lawmakers must be “responsive to the people and the crises that are presented to us.” Several of the top 10 priority
bills are responses to crises “around education leadership and education governance,” he added.
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 13
that districts should not expect future
funding matches for nickels levied after
that date.
Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, who
chairs his chamber’s Education
Committee, told his colleagues on the
Senate floor that he regretted several
districts were denied additional funding
to finish construction projects whose
costs became prohibitively high during
the Covid-19 pandemic. The legislature
previously assisted these districts and,
West said, implied more would be
provided. Several districts that have
signed construction contracts are now
“in a very precarious situation.”
Two programs seeing funding
cuts include Read to Achieve, which
dropped from $15.9 million to $12.3
million, and the supplement for
teachers who are National Board
Certified. That stipend declined from
$4.7 million a year to $4 million.
Beyond funding, the budget calls for
random and targeted financial audits
of local school districts – paid for by
the districts – and KDE will also have
to submit a report of school districts’
insurance coverage by Nov. 1.
By June 2027, KDE will also have to
document all districts’ bonded projects,
including how much debt remains and
the tax levies funding them. The School
Facilities Construction Commission
is barred from providing financial
assistance until this report has been
compiled and reviewed.
The General Assembly also enacted
several changes to school-tax levy
requirements. Future rate changes will
require broader explanation that must
be advertised more widely, including on
districts’ social media. The threshold
for tax-recall petitions has shrunk, too.
The new standard to trigger an election
will be whichever is lower: 5,000
registered voters or 10% of those in the
district who voted during the previous
presidential election.
School districts will also see new caps
on future tax increases. Those without
an occupational or license fee tax will
be barred from enacting these revenue
sources after Jan. 1, 2027, and boards
already having these taxes will not be
allowed to increase the rate after that
date. Personal property tax rates will
also be capped beginning in 2029.
Schools with students attending the
Gatton, Craft and Votruba academies
will no longer be able to count them in
their average daily attendance, while
$7.5 million will fund three new “school
of innovation” projects, as created in
SB 207 in 2025, with one in Covington
Independent Schools and two to be
chosen at a later date.
Although some specific policy
changes have different dates, the overall
budget will take effect on July 1 and run
through June 2028.
One-time spending in HB 900 and SB 197
$28 million
Kentucky Department of Education, supplemental career and
technical education funding
$26 million
Perry County Schools, to replace Robinson Elementary
(required to ask for FEMA reimbursement)
$10 million
Marion County Schools, to build a new Lebanon Elementary
$10 million
Estill County Schools, relocate middle schools in temporary
spaces
$9 million
Warren County Schools, for its IMPACT center
$ 7.5 million
Schools of Innovation, with $2.5 million for a school of
innovation in Covington Independent and $5 million for two
unnamed schools.
$5.5 million
Clay County Schools, renovation of Paces Creek Elementary
$5 million
Lincoln County Schools, school renovations
$5 million
Garrard County Schools, school and facility renovations
$5 million
KDE, for the KY FFA Leadership Training Center for its activity
center
$4 million
McCracken County Schools, an addition to its career and
technical education building
$3 million
Lyon County Schools, to support school facility improvements
$2.2 million
Christian County Schools, a new bus garage
$504,000
Christian County Schools, for district law enforcement vehicles
$2.5 million
KDE, for the new assessment and accountability system
implementation
$2 million
Frankfort Independent Schools, for facility maintenance and
modernization
$2 million
Shelby County Schools, for its middle school career center
$1.8 million
Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs
$1.5 million
Williamstown Independent Schools, for school renovations
$1.3 million
McCreary County Schools, for an access road for its high school
$1 million
Todd County Schools, for facility renovation and general
support
$1 million
Russellville Independent Schools, for facility renovation and
general support
$500,000
Rockcastle County Schools, facility support and equipment
needs
14 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
SB 1, SB 4 change state’s largest districts
By Brenna R. Kelly | Staff writer
The General Assembly passed two
bills this session that make changes
to how the state’s two largest school
districts are governed.
SB 1 and SB 4 both impact Jefferson
County Schools, while SB 4 also
include a provision that impacts
Fayette County Schools. Both bills were
vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear, but those
vetoes were overridden.
SB 1, filed by
Sen. David Givens,
R-Greensburg, is
essentially the same
bill Republicans
passed as SB 1 in
2022 and was ruled
unconstitutional by
the Kentucky Supreme Court. Both bills
move authority from the elected school
board to the superintendent.
In the ruling, the court said the
law failed to explain why Jefferson
County Schools should be treated
differently. The newly enacted SB 1
includes an eight-page list of reasons
why the district is distinct – noting its
problems include transportation issues,
having 77% of all the state’s schools
designated as low-performing, high
chronic absenteeism rates, a budget
shortfall and other issues.
“The Supreme Court gave us not just
a roadmap, but GPS coordinates of how
to handle our approach to Senate Bill
1 in a way that we think will strike the
balance of what they are saying was not
constitutional before,” Givens said on
the Senate floor as the legislature voted
to override the veto.
The law gives the superintendent
authority over contracts under
$250,000, allows the superintendent
to make budget transfers of up to
$250,000, requires a rolling five-year
strategic plan and requires the board
approve a three-year projection of
expenses and revenues.
In his veto message, Beshear said he
believes the bill is unconstitutional.
“The bill is special legislation that
violates Sections 59 and 60 of the
Kentucky Constitution by applying
only to the Jefferson County school
district and treating it differently than
all other public school districts in
Kentucky,” he said.
Jefferson
County Schools
superintendent
Brian Yearwood,
when the bill was
heard in committee,
told lawmakers
he did not need or
want the new authority the bill would
bestow upon him.
“My board members know Louisville
better than I do because they were
elected by the people of Jefferson
County,” Yearwood told lawmakers.
“They give me guidance every day about
how to navigate the complexities of our
community, and I need that.”
In addition to SB 1, SB 4 will
change how Jefferson County
Schools is governed.
Under SB 4, filed by Sen. Stephen
West, R-Paris, the Jefferson County
Board of Education will change from
seven to five members beginning
in January 2027. All seven current
members’ terms now end at the end of
the year – including those who were
slated to serve until December 2028.
The law divided the county into five
new divisions that will be on the ballot
this fall.
The bill also bans residents of Fayette
or Jefferson counties who work for
another school district from serving on
a school board.
In his veto message, Beshear said
the bill is unconstitutional because
it targets only Jefferson and Fayette
counties; in addition, he said by
changing the Jefferson board from
seven to five members, the bill
diminishes the representation of voters.
He also opposes the provision banning
teachers and other employees from
serving.
“Decisions regarding reorganization
of these boards of education and all
others across Kentucky should be
made locally by the people who live
there, not the General Assembly in
Frankfort,” he said.
Jefferson County school board
members told WHAS-TV that they are
considering whether to pursue legal
challenges to one or both of the bills.
The provision
banning employees
from serving on
boards impacts Fayette
County Schools board
chair Tyler Murphy, a
Boyle County teacher.
Murphy filed for
reelection on April 14, just hours
before the legislature voted to
override Beshear’s veto. The Fayette
County Clerk has said Murphy
can appear on the ballot this fall
because he filed before the bill, which
contained an emergency clause, was
passed into law.
Givens
Yearwood
Murphy
HB 67
An update to 2025’s SB 181,
traceable communications
law
As an assistant
high school principal,
Rep. J.T. Payne,
R-Henderson, saw
firsthand some of
the challenges that
arose in implementing
2025’s Senate Bill 181,
the traceable communications law. That
led him to sponsor House Bill 67, which
took effect immediately when Gov. Andy
Beshear signed the bill into law on April
13.
Payne called SB 181 “a very well-
intentioned piece of legislation
that maybe had some unintended
consequences.” He said he wanted to
maintain its goal of protecting students,
but not make “it more difficult for
teachers to do their job and be the
professionals they are.”
Public schools must still provide
a single, traceable communications
system that teachers, administrators,
coaches, qualified volunteers and others
have to generally use when talking
with students electronically, but HB 67
clarifies its exemptions.
For example, parents, siblings,
grandparents, aunts and uncles who
work or volunteer at school were
among those who were originally
exempt from the law; now that group
includes cousins, nephews, nieces and
adults who live in the same house as
the student. Additionally, parents/
guardians can now use a single waiver
form, instead of multiple ones, if
they want to add other employees/
volunteers to this list.
HB 1
Federal scholarship tax
credit program
HB 1, filed by Rep.
Kim Moser, R-Taylor
Mill, adds Kentucky
to the list of more
than two dozen states
that have opted into a
new federal tax credit
program designed to
benefit public and private K-12 students
meeting income requirements.
Under the program – which takes
effect in January and will be overseen
by the secretary of state – Kentucky
taxpayers will be able to donate up
to $1,700 annually to a scholarship
granting organizations (SGO) and
receive that money back as a federal tax
credit. SGOs, in turn, must be nonprofits
that dedicate at least 90% of their
resources to students whose families
earn up to 300% of their area’s median
household income. The SGOs then issue
scholarships to at least 10 students, all
of which cannot attend the same school.
Those scholarships can cover a variety
of things, such as private school tuition,
tutoring and internet access.
Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill
saying that “if we want to ensure every
child gets a worldclass education, the
answer is not diverting students and
dollars from public education, but
providing sufficient resources to fix
public education.”
House Speaker David Osborne,
R-Prospect, countered that the credit
does not affect education funding,
adding that “every single person that
I have talked to about this measure,
regardless of whether they’re for
traditional school choice or not, agrees
that this is the right thing to do.”
The federal program was created by
the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by
Congress. The federal government is
expected to release guidelines about the
program in the months ahead.
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 15
Payne
Moser
There are nearly a dozen other
new exemptions to the traceable
communications law that affect
educators. The law does not apply if
it involves virtual instruction, work-
based learning, parent-included
texts/emails, multi-person electronic
communications about school, athletic
or extracurricular events and comments
made on public social media posts.
More leeway is also granted for
communications involving emergencies
or matters involving personal health,
while school officials have more
authority when deciding whether to
punish violators. At the same time,
HB 67 ensures parents are notified
regularly as an investigation progresses.
The Kentucky Department of
Education has updated its FAQ available
at the QR code.
Beyond updating the traceable
communications law, HB 67 also
includes language from SB 3, which
broadens what school districts have to
publicly report regarding their finances.
Districts will now have to publish
various financial reports and the
superintendent’s contract on a website,
and if a district does not have 4% of
its budget in a contingency fund, it
will have to post additional monthly
reports, including procurement card
and credit card statements. The bill also
creates a new process for the board’s
budget approval and new deadlines for
superintendents to present a proposed
budget to the board.
For more information on
KDE guidance on HB 67
16 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
HB 727
Education ‘Christmas
tree’ bill
Toward the end
of each legislative
session, it’s common
for legislators to roll
multiple bills into
one, commonly called
a Christmas tree
bill. This year, House
Bill 727 took on that role, with its six
education proposals turning what
was eight pages into 79. The omnibus
measure cleared the General Assembly
during the session’s final hours and
became law when Gov. Andy Beshear
signed it on April 23.
“I want to thank you for carrying
the big, beautiful education bill that's
been put together," Senate Education
Chair Stephen West, R-Paris, said
in committee to Rep. Steve Riley,
R-Glasgow, HB 727’s sponsor.
Under language from his original bill,
the Education Professional Standards
Board will maintain the website for the
Kentucky Educator Placement Service
System, which went online 14 years
ago. Teacher candidates will now have
an easier time sending applications to
multiple districts, which in turn have
to post all vacancies with clear opening
and closing dates on the website.
Districts can still continue candidate
searches through other means.
HB 727 also contains HB 685’s effort
to make it easier for those with expired
teaching certificates and at least three
years of experience to return to the
classroom without needing to meet
additional postsecondary requirements,
if a superintendent waives them. These
one-time certificates will be good for up
to five years.
The combination bill also includes
HB 654’s update to last year’s Red
Tape Reduction Act, which ensured
districts can only be required to
complete reports and other actions
expressly mandated in state or federal
law. HB 727 ends requirements for
superintendents to search for and
report on the hiring of minority
candidates for vacancies of certified
positions, and ends another report
on workplace ethics programs
in schools. The bill does give the
General Assembly’s Education
Assessment and Accountability Review
Subcommittee the authority to request
additional reports it deems necessary.
With SB 71’s addition to HB 727,
school board chairs and vice chairs will
now be required to review budgetary
matters with their superintendent and
school finance officers, and all school
board members in office since 2015
will be required to receive two hours
of finance training every two years.
HB 621’s addition codifies current
administrative regulations for special
education class sizes, to better ensure
these classes are not overcrowded,
and SB 121 enacts housekeeping
measures affecting the Kentucky
Department of Education. That includes
reducing the amount of time the
Kentucky Board of Education has to
approve or reject proposed Schools
of Innovation and changing how the
board's non-voting teachers and
student members are selected. Except
for a change affecting those non-voting
members, the new law will take effect
in July.
HB 257
New state accountability
and assessment system
The state’s
assessment and
accountability system
will be revamped
under HB 257, filed
by Rep. J.T. Payne,
R-Henderson.
The bill was the
result of several years of work by
Education Commissioner Robbie
Fletcher and the Kentucky Department
of Education’s United We Learn Council
to reimagine education accountability
in the state.
The new system includes locally
developed indicators of quality and a
state accountability system that meets
federal requirements. Local indicators
of quality would include options for
districts to set their own indicators in
collaboration with their communities,
however those indicators do not factor
into the state accountability model.
The new system also reduces state
testing time, uses the individual growth
of each student instead of change in
accountability indicators from year
to year – while retaining the ability
to compare results – and prioritizing
student attendance.
Under the new system, KDE is
required to report on the State Report
Card “targeted quality measures,”
including the percent of National
Board-certified teachers, number of
teachers with Rank II or higher, percent
of 8th grade students with at least
one high school credit, and percent of
12th graders who have completed the
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid. After July 1, 2030, those quality
measures become part of the state’s
accountability system. KDE also must
report on the access to advanced math
in middle schools by Nov. 1 of this year.
During the April Superintendent’s
Webcast, Fletcher said he looks
forward to working with lawmakers on
implementing the new system. He also
thanked superintendents and other
stakeholders for providing their input.
“The passage of this bill gives
us a great launch of our moonshot
accountability system,” Fletcher said.
“While we did not land on the moon,
we are definitely orbiting and have
taken an important step forward in
developing an accountability system
that is relevant for all learners.”
Riley
Payne
Crime of grooming
HB 4, filed by Rep.
Marianne Proctor,
R-Union, creates the
crime of grooming a
minor under 14 by
someone over 18 or
someone in a position
of authority or position
of special trust to entice, coerce, solicit
or induce the minor to engage in sexual
conduct. Violations would be a class A
misdemeanor unless the minor is under
12 and then it would be class D felony.
School bus stop-arm
cameras
HB 7, filed by
Rep. David Hale, R-
Wellington, allows
districts to install
stop-arm cameras
on school buses.
If a school district
chooses to install
stop-arm cameras, the vendor would
collect the data and share the violator’s
information with local law enforcement.
From there, law enforcement would
review the footage before contacting
the violator and issuing a civil penalty.
Violators would be fined $300 on the
first offense and $500 on the second or
subsequent offense with the revenue
remaining in the district.
Reading instruction
HB 253, filed by
Rep. James Tipton,
R-Taylorsville,
bans the use of any
reading curriculum
that uses the three-
cueing system by
the 2029-30 school
year and requires KDE to establish an
approved list of reading curriculum
and interventions. It also bans districts
from entering into non-disclosure
agreements relating to employee
misconduct and requires applicants to
disclose whether they have been the
subject of a disciplinary action within
the past year. Because it contained an
emergency clause, this law is already in
effect.
Mandatory expulsion
SB 101, filed by
Sen. Matt Nunn,
R-Sadieville, requires
a local board of
education to expel
a student in grades
6-12 for at least
12 months if the
student intentionally causes physical
injury to educational personnel or
physically assaults another student
on school property, at a bus stop, or
at a school function. It also requires
schools to report intentional assault to
law enforcement unless the student’s
disability interfered with an ability to
conform to the student code of conduct.
Penalties for use of public
resources
SB 59, filed by
Sen. Steve Rawlings,
R-Burlington, adds
criminal penalties to a
law that bans the use
of public resources to
advocate for or against
ballot initiatives.
Those found guilty of improperly
using public resources face a $500 fine
for a first offense; a $1,000 fine for a
second; and another $1,000 fine and
a Class A misdemeanor for a third and
subsequent offenses. The legislation
also further defines public resources
and makes clear that public school
districts and regional educational
cooperatives are covered by the ban. It
exempts KET and associations that are
advocating on behalf of their members.
Alternative high school
diplomas
HB 562, filed by
Rep. Timmy Truett,
R-Jackson, requires
high schools to issue
alternative diplomas
for students with
disabilities. It will
also require the
Department of Workforce Development
to work with employers in order to help
them hire students with an alternative
high school diploma and publish a list of
those employers on its website.
School board taxing
authority
HB 757, filed by Rep.
Jason Petrie, R-Elkton,
makes several changes
to local school district
taxing authority
including eliminating
state equalization for
nickels levied after Jan.
1, 2026. Also, starting in January 2027,
schools without occupational license
taxes will not be allowed to enact them,
and rates for those with occupational
taxes will be capped. In 2029, personal
property tax rates will not be allowed
to exceed the rate levied for 2028’s
assessment. The bill also changes the
notice requirements for tax increases
including advertising the proposed tax
for at least two weeks on a webpage, on
social media and in the newspaper.
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 17
Proctor
Hale
Tipton
Nunn
Rawlings
Truett
Petrie
Additional bills passed:
Administrator raises tied to
teacher raises
SB 2, filed by Sen.
Julie Raque Adams,
R-Louisville, ties school
district administrator
raises to teacher pay
raises. Superintendent
or administrator raises
cannot be greater than
the percentage of the average percent
pay increase for classroom teachers.
Existing superintendent contracts were
grandfathered in and administrators
can receive raises based on a change
in duties or as part of a board decision
that increases the job classification. The
education commissioner can also issue
a waiver allowing a raise.
Farm to school food
SB 5, filed by
Sen. Jason Howell,
R-Murray, is designed
to remove barriers
that have made it
harder for schools
to buy locally grown
food, giving districts
more flexibility to work directly
with Kentucky farmers. It allows a
local school board or local school
district participating in any of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture Child
Nutrition Programs to purchase
Kentucky-grown agricultural products
in accordance with federal law.
Passenger vans
SB 46, filed by
Sen. Matt Deneen,
R-Elizabethtown,
allows districts to use
10-passenger vans to
transport students.
During the 2025
session, lawmakers
passed a law to allow districts to
use nine-passenger vans as a way to
save money when transporting small
numbers of students. Because the bill
contains an emergency clause it is
already in effect.
Senate confirmation
HB 10, filed by
Rep. John Hodgson,
R-Fisherville,
requires that the
chairs of several
education boards
be confirmed by the
Senate, including
the Kentucky Board of Education, the
School Curriculum, Assessment and
Accountability Council, the Education
Professional Standards Board and the
Council on Postsecondary Education.
Lawmakers honor KSBA’s 90th anniversary
Both the House and the Senate recognized KSBA during the session for the association’s
90th Anniversary. On March 4, Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, a former Warren County
Schools board member, read the honorary citation on the House floor.
“We are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Kentucky School Boards Association this
year,” Jackson said before reading the citation. “The Association represents all 171 public
school boards in Kentucky comprising 857 locally elected school board members who together
form the largest body of elected officials in the Commonwealth and exemplify the importance
of local leadership in public education. Mr. Speaker, move for adoption.”
On April 14, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 141, filed by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, a former Murray Independent
Schools board member. The resolution referenced KSBA’s contribution to the development of civic leadership “with many school
board members going on to serve their communities and the Commonwealth in other capacities, including
service in both chambers of the General Assembly.”
The resolution concluded with: “When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor of the 90th
anniversary of the Kentucky School Boards Association and in appreciation of the dedicated service of
Kentucky’s locally elected school board members.”
18 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
#KYGA26
By the numbers
1,297
Bills filed
192
Bills that became law
120
House bills that became law
72
Senate bills that became law
15%
Percentage of total bills that
became law
37
(including line-item vetoed):
Governor vetoes
4.7%
decrease in bills that became
law from the 2024 budget
session
- Source: KSBA and Hannah News Service
Adams
Howell
Deneen
Hodgson
Jackson
Howell
MAY 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 19
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20 Kentucky School Advocate | MAY 2026
Presented by knowledgeable KSBA staff, the update is designed to unpack
often-complex legislative and legal decisions over the past year that impact
policies at the district level. The agenda includes a 2026 legislative session
recap, board policy updates resulting from recent legislation, reviews of
federal policy developments, relevant case law and more.
This three-hour webinar is recommended for school board members,
superintendents, administrators, board attorneys, finance officers and
other district personnel with policy-enacting responsibilities.
Pre-registration required. Individual and district (group) rates available. Good for three hours of
state-mandated board training. Visit ksba.org/LawUpdate.aspx or scan the QR code to register.
(Registration opening soon) KSBA’s popular summer conference returns to Lexington for two
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training@ksba.org
800-372-2962
For more information on upcoming training
opportunities, including event registration,
scan the QR code or visit KSBA.org.
20th Annual Federal & State Law Update
Tuesday, June 16 | 9 a.m. – noon (ET) | Webinar
2026 Summer Leadership Institute
July 10-11 | Marriott Griffin Gate, Lexington
UPCOMING
TRAINING
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Mark your calendars for two major training events this summer!