AN ACT relating to the education assessment and accountability system.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 1 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
AN ACT relating to the education assessment and accountability system. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) As used in this section: 5
(a) "Locally developed indicators of quality" means measures or indicators 6
created or adopted by a local school district that: 7
1. Are aligned with the academic standards established in Section 2 of 8
this Act; 9
2. Allow all students to demonstrate their ability to apply grade -10
appropriate, standards -driven knowledge, content, and skills in real -11
world applications; and 12
3. May include additional locally identified indicators related to priorities 13
established by the loc al community that serve to complement the 14
requirements in subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this paragraph. These 15
indicators may include student well -being, fiscal responsibility, or 16
school safety; and 17
(b) "Vibrant learning" means an educational experience that is: 18
1. Characterized by student agency and the application of knowledge 19
and skills aligned with the academic standards established in Section 2 20
of this Act; 21
2. Developed in partnership with students' families, local communities, 22
and the local workforce; and 23
3. Demonstrated through personalized projects, outputs, experiences, or 24
other produced results reflecting each individual student's academic 25
and career interests. 26
(2) Each local school district may develop and implement a system of locally 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 2 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
developed indi cators of quality in accordance with administrative regulations 1
promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Education. The locally developed 2
indicators of quality shall include: 3
(a) Student participation in vibrant learning experiences; and 4
(b) Locally developed indicators of performance. 5
(3) A local school district utilizing a system of locally developed indicators of quality 6
shall: 7
(a) When an indicator involves student data, include student performance data 8
for all students, disaggregated by individual subgroup s, where permissible; 9
and 10
(b) Develop a publicly available, online display that clearly communicates each 11
applicable school and the district's performance on the locally developed 12
indicators of quality, disaggregated by individual subgroups, where 13
permissible. 14
(4) The Kentucky Department of Education: 15
(a) Shall offer technical assistance to local school districts in their development 16
of locally developed indicators of quality; and 17
(b) May offer a one (1) time payment to offset costs incurred by local school 18
districts in the development of locally developed indicators of quality. A 19
financial payment provided under this paragraph shall not exceed fifteen 20
thousand dollars ($15,000) per district. 21
(5) The Kentucky Board of Education may promulgate administrative regulations in 22
accordance with KRS Chapter 13A necessary to administer the provisions of this 23
section. 24
Section 2. KRS 158.6453 (Effective July 1, 2026) is amended to read as 25
follows: 26
(1) As used in this section: 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 3 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(a) "Accelerated learning" means an organized way of helping students meet 1
individual academic goals by providing direct instruction to eliminate student 2
performance deficiencies or enable students to move more quickly through 3
course requirements and pursue higher level skill development; 4
(b) "Advanced coursework" means educational programs or opportunities 5
designed to challenge students with more rigorous content beyond the 6
standard curriculum, including but not limited to advanced placement, 7
International Baccalaureate, and honors courses; 8
(c) "Constructed-response items" or "performance-based items" means individual 9
test items that require the student to create an answer rather than select a 10
response and may include fill -in-the-blank, short -answer, extended -answer, 11
open-response, and writing-on-demand formats; 12
(d) "Criterion-referenced test" means a test that is aligned with defined academic 13
content standards and measures an individual student's level of performance 14
against the standards; 15
(e) "Formative assessment" means a process used by teachers and students during 16
instruction to adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve students' 17
achievement of intended instructional outcomes. Formative assessments may 18
include the use of commercial assessments, curriculum-embedded 19
assessments, classroom observations, teacher -designed [classroom tests and 20
]assessments, and other processes and assignments to gain information about 21
individual student learning that reflects developmentally appropriate grade -22
level performance; 23
(f) "Interim assessments" means assessments that are given periodically 24
throughout the year to provide diagnostic information and to show individual 25
student performance against content standards; 26
(g) "Summative assessment" means an assessment given at the e nd of the school 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 4 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
year, semester, or other period of time to evaluate students' performance 1
against academic[content] standards within a unit of instruction or a course; 2
and 3
(h) "Writing" means a purposeful act of thinking and expression that uses 4
language to explore ideas and communicate meaning to others. Writing is a 5
complex, multifaceted act of communication and is distinct from basic 6
handwriting or penmanship. 7
(2) (a) Every six (6) years, the Kentucky Department of Education shall implement a 8
process for reviewing Kentucky's academic standards and the alignment of 9
corresponding assessments for possible revision or replacement to ensure 10
alignment with transition readines s standards necessary for global 11
competitiveness, state career and technical education standards, and KRS 12
158.196. 13
(b) The revisions to the academic[content] standards shall: 14
1. Focus on critical knowledge, skills, and capacities needed for success in 15
the global economy; 16
2. Result in fewer but more in -depth standards to facilitate mastery 17
learning; 18
3. Communicate expectations more clearly and concisely to teachers, 19
parents, students, and citizens; 20
4. Be based on evidence-based research; 21
5. Consider international benchmarks; and 22
6. Ensure that the standards are aligned from elementary to high school to 23
postsecondary education so that students can be successful at each 24
education level. 25
(c) 1. The department shall establish four (4) standards and assessments 26
review committees, with each committee composed of a minimum of six 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 5 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(6) Kentucky public school teachers and a minimum of two (2) 1
representatives from Kentucky institutions of higher education, 2
including at least one (1) representative from a public instituti on of 3
higher education. Each committee member shall teach in the subject 4
area that his or her committee is assigned to review and have no prior or 5
current affiliation with a curriculum or assessment resources vendor. 6
2. One (1) of the four (4) committees s hall be assigned to focus on the 7
review of reading[language arts] and writing academic standards and 8
corresponding assessments in reading , one (1) on the review of 9
mathematics academic standards and assessments, one (1) on the review 10
of science academic st andards and assessments, and one (1) on the 11
review of social studies academic standards and assessments. 12
(d) 1. The department shall establish twelve (12) advisory panels to advise and 13
assist each of the four (4) standards and assessments review committees. 14
2. Three (3) advisory panels shall be assigned to each standards and 15
assessments review committee. One (1) panel shall review the standards 16
and assessments for kindergarten through grade five (5), one (1) shall 17
review the standards and assessments for gr ades six (6) through eight 18
(8), and one (1) shall review the standards and assessments for grades 19
nine (9) through twelve (12). 20
3. Each advisory panel shall be composed of at least one (1) representative 21
from a Kentucky institution of higher education and a minimum of six 22
(6) Kentucky public school teachers who teach in the grade level and 23
subject reviewed by the advisory panel to which they are assigned and 24
have no prior or current affiliation with a curriculum or assessment 25
resources vendor. 26
(e) The commi ssioner of education and the president of the Council on 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 6 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
Postsecondary Education shall also provide consultants for the standards and 1
assessments review committees and the advisory panels who are business and 2
industry professionals actively engaged in care er fields that depend on the 3
various content areas. 4
(f) 1. The standards and assessments process review committee is hereby 5
established and shall be composed of the commissioner of education or 6
designee as a nonvoting member and nine (9) voting representat ives of 7
public schools, of whom at least two (2) shall be parents of public 8
school students, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate 9
in accordance with KRS 11.160 as follows: 10
a. One (1) language arts teacher; 11
b. One (1) math teacher; 12
c. One (1) science teacher; 13
d. One (1) social studies teacher; 14
e. Two (2) school principals; 15
f. Two (2) school superintendents; and 16
g. One (1) school board member. 17
2. On making appointments to the committee, the Governor shall ensure 18
broad geographical urban and r ural representation and representation of 19
elementary, middle, and high school levels; ensure equal representation 20
of the two (2) sexes, inasmuch as possible; and ensure that appointments 21
reflect the minority racial composition of the Commonwealth. 22
3. The review of the committee shall be limited to the procedural aspects 23
of the review process undertaken prior to its consideration. 24
4. Notwithstanding KRS 12.028, the committee shall not be subject to 25
reorganization by the Governor. 26
(g) 1. The review process implemented under this subsection shall be an open, 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 7 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
transparent process that allows all Kentuckians an opportunity to 1
participate. The department shall ensure the public's assistance in 2
reviewing and suggesting changes to the standards a nd alignment 3
adjustments to corresponding state assessments by establishing a 4
website dedicated to collecting comments by the public and educators. 5
An independent third party, which has no prior or current affiliation with 6
a curriculum or assessment resour ces vendor, shall be selected by the 7
department to collect and transmit the comments to the department for 8
dissemination to the appropriate advisory panel for review and 9
consideration. 10
2. Each advisory panel shall review the standards and assessments for i ts 11
assigned subject matter and grade level and the suggestions made by the 12
public and educators. After completing its review, each advisory panel 13
shall make recommendations for changes to the standards and alignment 14
adjustments for assessments to the appro priate standards and 15
assessments review committee. 16
3. Each standards and assessments review committee shall review the 17
findings and make recommendations to revise or replace existing 18
standards and to adjust alignment of assessments. 19
4. The recommendations shall be published on the website established in 20
this subsection for the purpose of gathering additional feedback from the 21
public. The commissioner shall subsequently present the 22
recommendations and the public feedback to the Interim Joint 23
Committee on Education. 24
5. The commissioner shall subsequently provide a report to the standards 25
and assessments process review committee summarizing the process 26
conducted under this subsection and the resulting recommendations. The 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 8 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
report shall include but not be limited to the timeline of the review 1
process, public feedback, and responses from the Interim Joint 2
Committee on Education. 3
6. After receiving the commissioner's report, the standards and assessments 4
process review committee shall either concur that stakeholders have had 5
adequate opportunity to provide input on standards and the 6
corresponding alignment of state assessments or find the input process 7
deficient. If the process is found deficient, the recommendations may be 8
returned to the appropriate standards and a ssessments review committee 9
for review as described in subparagraph 3. of this paragraph. If the 10
process is found sufficient, the recommendations shall be forwarded 11
without amendment to the Kentucky Board of Education. 12
(h) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations 13
in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A as may be needed for the administration 14
of the review process, including staggering the timing and sequence of the 15
review process by subject area and remuneration of the review c ommittees 16
and advisory panels described in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this subsection. 17
(i) 1. The Kentucky Board of Education shall consider for approval the 18
revisions to academic standards for a content area and the alignment of 19
the corresponding state ass essment once recommendations are received 20
from the standards and assessments process review committee. Existing 21
state academic standards shall remain in place until the board approves 22
new standards. 23
2. Any revision to, or replacement of, the academic stand ards and 24
assessments as a result of the review process conducted under this 25
subsection shall be implemented in Kentucky public schools no later 26
than the second academic year following the review process. Existing 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 9 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
academic standards shall be used until new standards are implemented. 1
3. The Department of Education shall disseminate the academic [content 2
]standards to the schools and teacher preparation programs. 3
(j) The Department of Education shall provide or facilitate statewide training 4
sessions for existing teachers and administrators on how to: 5
1. Integrate the revised academic[content] standards into classroom 6
instruction; 7
2. Better integrate performance assessment of students within their 8
instructional practices; and 9
3. Help all students use higher-order thinking and communication skills. 10
(k) The Education Professional Standards Board in cooperation with the 11
Kentucky Board of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education 12
shall coordinate information and training sessions for faculty and staff in all of 13
the teacher preparation programs in the use of the revised academic [content 14
]standards. The Education Professional Standards Board shall ensure that each 15
teacher preparation program includes use of the academic standards in the 16
pre-service education programs and that all teacher interns will have 17
experience planning classroom instruction based on the revised standards. 18
(l) The Council on Postsecondary Education in cooperation with the Kentucky 19
Department of Education and the postsecondary education i nstitutions in the 20
state shall coordinate information sessions regarding the academic [content 21
]standards for faculty who teach in the various content areas. 22
(m) The Education Professional Standards Board shall, as a condition of program 23
approval, require teacher preparation programs to align curriculum with the 24
expectations set forth in the state's academic [content ]standards. 25
(3) (a) The Kentucky Board of Education shall be responsible for creating and 26
implementing a balanced statewide assessment program that measures the 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 10 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
students', schools', and districts' achievement of the goals set forth in KRS 1
158.645 and 158.6451, to ensure compliance with the federal Every Student 2
Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114 -95, or its successor, and to ensure 3
school accountability. 4
(b) The board shall revise the annual statewide assessment program as needed in 5
accordance with revised academic standards and corresponding assessment 6
alignment adjustments approved by the board under subsection (2) of this 7
section. 8
(c) The st atewide assessments shall not include any academic standards not 9
approved by the board under subsection (2) of this section. 10
(d) The board shall seek the advice of the Office of Education Accountability; the 11
School Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountabilit y Council; the Education 12
Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee, and the department's 13
technical advisory committee in the development of the assessment program. 14
The statewide assessment program shall not include measurement of a 15
student's abilit y to become a self -sufficient individual or to become a 16
responsible member of a family, work group, or community. 17
(4) (a) The academic components of the statewide assessment program shall be 18
composed of annual student summative tests, which may include a 19
combination of multiple competency -based assessment and performance 20
measures approved by the Kentucky Board of Education. 21
(b) The annual student summative tests shall: 22
1. Measure individual student achievement in [language, ] reading, 23
[English, ]mathematics, science, and social studies at designated grades; 24
2. Provide teachers and parents a valid and reliable comprehensive analysis 25
of skills mastered by individual students; 26
3. Provide diagnostic information that identifies strengths and academic 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 11 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
deficiencies of individual students in the content areas; 1
4. Provide information to teachers that can enable them to improve 2
instruction for current and future students; 3
5. Provide longitudinal profiles for students; and 4
6. Ensure school and district accountability for student achievement of the 5
goals set forth in KRS 158.645 and 158.6451, except the statewide 6
assessment program shall not include measurement of a student's ability 7
to beco me a self -sufficient individual or to become a responsible 8
member of a family, work group, or community. 9
(5) The state student assessments shall include the following components: 10
(a) Elementary and middle grades requirements are: 11
1. A criterion -referenced test each in mathematics and reading in grades 12
three (3) through eight (8) that is valid and reliable for an individual 13
student and that measures the depth and breadth of the[Kentucky's] 14
academic [content ]standards; and 15
2. A criterion-referenced test each in science and social studies that is valid 16
and reliable for an individual student as necessary to measure the depth 17
and breadth of the[Kentucky's] academic [content ] standards to be 18
administered one (1) time within the elementary and middle grades, 19
respectively;[ 20
3. An on-demand assessment of student writing to be administered one (1) 21
time within the elementary grades and one (1) time within the middle 22
grades; and 23
4. An editing and mechanics test relating to writing, using multiple choice 24
and constructed response items, to be administered one (1) time within 25
the elementary and the middle grades, respectively;] 26
(b) High school requirements are: 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 12 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
1. A criterion-referenced test in mathematics, reading, and science that is 1
valid and reliable for an individual s tudent and that measures the depth 2
and breadth of Kentucky's academic content standards to be 3
administered one (1) time within the high school grades; 4
2. A criterion-referenced test in social studies that is valid and reliable for 5
an individual student as necessary to measure the depth and breadth of 6
the[Kentucky's] academic [content ]standards to be administered one (1) 7
time within the high school grades; and 8
3. [An on-demand assessment of student writing to be administered one (1) 9
time within the high school grades; 10
4. An editing and mechanics test relating to writing, using multiple choice 11
and constructed response items, to be administered one (1) time within 12
the high school grades; and 13
5. ]A college admissions examination to assess English, reading, 14
mathematics, and science in the spring of grade eleven (11); 15
(c) The Kentucky Board of Education shall add any other component necessary 16
to comply with the Every Stu dent Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114 -95, 17
or its successor, as determined by the United States Department of Education; 18
(d) The criterion -referenced components required in this subsection shall be 19
composed of constructed response items and multiple choice items; and 20
(e) The results of the assessment program developed under this subsection shall 21
be used by schools and districts to determine appropriate instructional 22
modifications for all students in order for students to make continuous 23
progress, including that needed by advanced learners. 24
(6) Each school district shall administer the statewide student assessment during the 25
last fourteen (14) days of school in the district's instructional calendar. The 26
Kentucky Board of Education may change the testing w indow to allow for 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 13 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
innovative assessment systems or other online test administration and shall 1
promulgate administrative regulations that minimize the number of days of testing 2
and outline the procedures to be used during the testing process to ensure test 3
security, including procedures for testing makeup days, and to comply with federal 4
assessment requirements. 5
(7) A student enrolled in a district -operated or district -contracted alternative program 6
shall participate in the appropriate assessments required by this section. 7
(8) A local school district may select and use commercial interim or formative 8
assessments or develop and use its own formative assessments to provide data on 9
how well its students are growing toward mastery of Kentucky academic standards, 10
so long as the district's local school board develops a policy minimizing the 11
reduction in instructional time related to the administration of the interim 12
assessments. Nothing in this section precludes teachers from using ongoing teacher-13
developed formative processes. 14
(9) Each school that enrolls primary students shall use diagnostic assessments and 15
prompts that measure readiness in reading and mathematics for its primary students 16
as determined by the school to be developmentally appropriate. The schools m ay 17
use commercial products, use products and procedures developed by the district, or 18
develop their own diagnostic procedures. The results shall be used to inform the 19
teachers and parents or guardians of each student's skill level. 20
(10) The state board shall ensure that a technically sound longitudinal comparison of the 21
assessment results for the same students shall be made available. 22
(11) The following provisions shall apply to the college admissions examination 23
described in subsection (5)(b)3.[5.] of this section: 24
(a) The cost of the college admissions examination administered to students in 25
high school shall be paid for by the Kentucky Department of Education. The 26
costs of additional college admissions examinations shall be the responsibility 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 14 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
of the student; 1
(b) If funds are available, the Kentucky Department of Education shall provide a 2
college admissions examination preparation program to all public high school 3
juniors. The department may contract for necessary services; and 4
(c) Accommodations provided to a student with a disability taking the college 5
admissions assessment under this subsection shall consist of: 6
1. Accommodations provided in a manner allowed by the college 7
admissions assessment provider when results in test scores are 8
reportable to a postsecondary institution for admissions and placement 9
purposes, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of this paragraph; or 10
2. Accommodations provided in a manner allowed by a student's 11
individualized education program as defined in K RS 158.281 for a 12
student whose disability precludes valid assessment of his or her 13
academic abilities using the accommodations provided under 14
subparagraph 1. of this paragraph when the student's scores are not 15
reportable to a postsecondary institution for admissions and placement 16
purposes. 17
(12) Kentucky teachers shall have a significant role in providing feedback about the 18
design of the assessments, except for the college admissions exam described in 19
subsection (5)(b)3.[5.] of this section. The assessments shall be designed to: 20
(a) Measure developmentally appropriate grade -level performance aligned to 21
the academic standards[grade appropriate core academic content, basic skills, 22
and higher-order thinking skills and their application]; 23
(b) Provide valid and re liable scores for schools. If scores are reported for 24
students individually, they shall be valid and reliable; and 25
(c) Minimize the time spent by teachers and students on assessment[; and 26
(d) Assess Kentucky academic standards only]. 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 15 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(13) The results from assessment under subsections (3) and (5) of this section shall be 1
reported to the school districts and schools no later than seventy -five (75) days 2
following the last day the assessment can be administered. Assessment reports 3
provided to the school distric ts and schools shall include an electronic copy of an 4
operational subset of test items from each assessment administered to their students 5
and the results for each of those test items by student and by school. 6
(14) The Department of Education shall gather information to establish the validity of 7
the assessment and accountability program. It shall develop a biennial plan for 8
validation studies that shall include but not be limited to the consistency of student 9
results across multiple measures, the congruence of school scores with documented 10
improvements in instructional practice and the school learning environment, and the 11
potential for all scores to yield fair, consistent, and accurate student performance 12
level and school accountability decisions. Validation activities shall take place in a 13
timely manner and shall include a review of the accuracy of scores assigned to 14
students and schools, as well as of the testing materials. The plan shall be submitted 15
to the Commission by July 1 of the first year of each bi ennium. A summary of the 16
findings shall be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission by September 17
1 of the second year of the biennium. 18
(15) The Department of Education and the state board shall offer optional assistance to 19
local school districts an d schools in developing and using continuous assessment 20
strategies needed to ensure student progress. The continuous assessment shall 21
provide diagnostic information to improve instruction to meet the needs of 22
individual students. 23
(16) The Administration Co de for Kentucky's Assessment Program shall include 24
prohibitions of inappropriate test preparation activities by school district employees 25
charged with test administration and oversight, including but not limited to the issue 26
of teachers being required to do test practice in lieu of regular classroom instruction 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 16 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
and test practice outside the normal work day. The code shall include disciplinary 1
sanctions that may be taken toward a school or individuals. 2
(17) The Kentucky Board of Education, after the Departme nt of Education has received 3
advice from the Office of Education Accountability; the School Curriculum, 4
Assessment, and Accountability Council; and the department's technical advisory 5
committee, shall promulgate an administrative regulation under KRS Chapt er 13A 6
to establish the components of a reporting structure for assessments administered 7
under this section. The reporting structure shall include the following components: 8
(a) A school report card that clearly communicates with parents and the public 9
about school performance. The school report card shall be sent to the parents 10
of the students of the districts, and information on electronic access to a 11
summary of the results for the district shall be published in the newspaper 12
with the largest circulation i n the county. It shall include but not be limited to 13
the following components reported by race, gender, and disability when 14
appropriate: 15
1. Student academic achievement, including the results from each of the 16
assessments administered under this section; 17
2. For Advanced Placement, Cambridge Advanced International, and 18
International Baccalaureate, the courses offered, the number of students 19
enrolled, completing, and taking the examination for each course, and 20
the percentage of examinees receiving a score of t hree (3) or better on 21
AP examinations, a score of "e" or better on Cambridge Advanced 22
International examinations, or a score of four (4) or better on IB 23
examinations. The data shall be disaggregated by gender, race, students 24
with disabilities, and economic status; 25
3. Nonacademic achievement, including the school's attendance, retention, 26
graduation rates, and student transition to postsecondary; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 17 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
4. School learning environment, including measures of parental 1
involvement;[ and] 2
5. Until June 30, 2030, targeted quality measures, which shall include a 3
measure of the change from the prior school year on the following 4
factors: 5
a. The percentage of certified teachers within the school and 6
district who have attained: 7
i. Rank II status or higher as determined by the E ducation 8
Professional Standards Board; or 9
ii. Certification from the National Board for Professional 10
Teaching Standards; 11
b. For schools and districts containing students in grade eight (8), 12
the percentage of students earning at least one (1) high school 13
credit upon the completion of the student's grade eight (8) school 14
year; and 15
c. For schools and districts containing students in grade twelve 16
(12), the percentage of graduating students who have: 17
i. Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by 18
the student's graduation date; or 19
ii. A parent or legal guardian that has submitted an 20
appropriate form to the school or district to opt out of 21
completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 22
after completing a district -approved presentation regarding 23
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and 24
6.[5.] Any other school pe rformance data required by the Every Student 25
Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-95, or its successor; 26
(b) An individual student report to parents for each student in grades three (3) 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 18 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
through eight (8) summarizing the student's skills in reading, science , social 1
studies, and mathematics. The school's staff shall develop a plan for 2
accelerated learning for any student with identified deficiencies or strengths; 3
and 4
(c) A student's score on the college admissions assessment administered under 5
subsection (5)(b)3.[5.] of this section. 6
(18) (a) Every six (6) years, the Kentucky Department of Education shall implement a 7
comprehensive process for reviewing and revising the academic standards in 8
visual and performing arts and practical living skills and career stud ies for all 9
levels and in world[foreign] language for middle and high schools. The 10
department shall develop review committees for the standards for each of the 11
content areas that include representation from certified specialist public 12
school teachers and postsecondary teachers in those subject areas. 13
(b) The academic standards in practical living skills for elementary, middle, and 14
high school levels shall include a focus on drug abuse prevention, with an 15
emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the co nnection between 16
prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin and 17
synthetic drugs. 18
(c) The department shall provide to all schools guidelines for programs that 19
incorporate the adopted academic standards in visual and performing ar ts and 20
practical living and career studies. The department shall provide to middle and 21
high schools guidelines for including a foreign language program. The 22
guidelines shall address program length and time, courses offered, staffing, 23
resources, and facilities. 24
(d) The Kentucky Department of Education, in consultation with certified public 25
school teachers of visual and performing arts, may develop program standards 26
for the visual and performing arts. 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 19 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(19) (a) The Kentucky Department of Education shall develop and distribute[provide] 1
to all school districts guidelines for including an effective writing program 2
across the content areas aligned to the academic standards. The department 3
shall provide professional learning opportunities to support authentic and 4
disciplinary-specific writing across the curriculum for superintendents, 5
school-based decision making councils, principals, teachers, and teacher 6
preparation programs[within the curriculum]. 7
(b) Each superintendent of a local school district shall adopt poli cies that 8
determine the writing program for the local school district and ensure the 9
writing program policy is published on the district's website. The writing 10
program shall include disciplinary -specific writing across the curriculum 11
and incorporate a vari ety of language resources, technological tools, and 12
multiple opportunities for students to develop complex communication skills 13
for a variety of purposes. 14
(20) (a) The Kentucky Department of Education, in consultation with the review 15
committees described in subsection (18) of this section, shall develop a school 16
profile report to be used by all schools to document how they will address the 17
adopted academic standards in their implementation of the programs as 18
described in subsection (18) of this section, whi ch may include student 19
opportunities and experiences in extracurricular activities. The department 20
shall include the essential workplace ethics program on the school profile 21
report. 22
(b) By October 1 of each year, each school principal shall complete the sc hool 23
profile report, which shall be signed by the members of the school council, or 24
the principal if no school council exists, and the superintendent. The report 25
shall be electronically transmitted to the Kentucky Department of Education, 26
and the original shall be maintained on file at the local board office and made 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 20 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
available to the public upon request. The department shall include a link to 1
each school's profile report on its website. 2
(c) If a school staff member, student, or a student's parent has concer ns regarding 3
deficiencies in a school's implementation of the programs described in 4
subsection (18) of this section, he or she may submit a written inquiry to the 5
school council. 6
(21) (a) No later than December 1, 2025, each local board of education shall adopt a 7
district plan establishing clear policies on the promotion of advanced 8
coursework or accelerated learning in language arts, mathematics, social 9
studies, and science by grade level for students in grades four (4) to twelve 10
(12). 11
(b) The district plan required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall: 12
1. Be published on a publicly accessible location on the district website; 13
2. Describe the strategies and approach to advanced coursework or 14
accelerated learning options by grade level for language art s, 15
mathematics, social studies, and science; and 16
3. Require that the service delivery options for students identified as gifted 17
and talented in language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science 18
include the following for each grade level and subject area: 19
a. i. Accelerated learning; or 20
ii. Advanced coursework; and 21
b. At least one (1) of the following service delivery options: 22
i. Collaborative teaching and consultation services; 23
ii. Special counseling services; 24
iii. Differentiated study experiences for individuals and cluster 25
groups in the regular classroom; 26
iv. Distance learning; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 21 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
v. Enrichment services that are not extracurricular during the 1
school day; 2
vi. Independent study; 3
vii. Mentorships; 4
viii. Resource services delivered in a pull -out classroom or other 5
appropriate instructional setting; 6
ix. Seminars; 7
x. Travel study options; or 8
xi. Special schools or self -contained classrooms for students in 9
grades four (4) through twelve (12) only. 10
(c) The district plan required by paragraph (a) of this subsection may: 11
1. Automatically enroll a student who scores distinguished in any subject 12
area on the most recent statewide assessment for which scores are 13
available in available advanced coursework for that subject area and any 14
corresponding subject area designated by the local board of education; 15
2. Include eligibility criteria for qualification for available advanced 16
coursework for all other students; 17
3. Require written consent from a parent or guardian of a student to 18
withdraw or exclude a student that is eligible for advanced coursework 19
according to the district plan from that advanced coursework. If a 20
student requests to withdraw from advanced coursework to pursue 21
another educational opportunity, a princip al may withdraw the student 22
without written consent from a parent or guardian only after a good-faith 23
attempt to contact the parent or guardian is unsuccessful; and 24
4. Permit a principal to withdraw a student from advanced coursework 25
without written consen t from his or her parent or guardian if the 26
student's participation in advanced coursework would have an adverse 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 22 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
educational impact on a student, including interference with his or her 1
career pathway, access to career and technical education coursework, or 2
another educational opportunity. 3
(22) [(a) ]The Kentucky Board of Education may promulgate administrative 4
regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to administer the provisions of 5
subsection (21) of this section.[ 6
(b) By December 1, 2025, the Kentuck y Department of Education, in 7
collaboration with local school districts, shall establish school district 8
recommendations for the consistent use of preliminary assessment data and 9
other criteria to identify students prepared for advanced coursework. ] 10
Section 3. KRS 158.6455 is amended to read as follows: 11
It is the intent of the General Assembly that schools succeed with all students and receive 12
the appropriate consequences in proportion to that success. 13
(1) (a) The Kentuc ky Board of Education shall create an accountability system to 14
classify districts and schools in accordance with the academic standards and 15
student assessment program developed pursuant to KRS 158.6453. 16
(b) The state accountability system shall include an annual meaningful 17
differentiation of all public schools in the state using multiple measures that 18
describe the overall performance of each district, school, and student 19
subgroup. Beginning with data from the 2026 -2027 school year, 20
performance shall be base d on a combination of academic and school quality 21
indicators and measures, hereinafter called "state indicators." The state 22
indicators shall exclusively include: 23
1. Student assessment results; 24
2. Measures of individual student growth in reading and mathematics; 25
3. Progress toward achieving English proficiency by limited English 26
proficiency students; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 23 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
4.[3.] Student engagement as measured by chronic absenteeism, which shall 1
be defined as a student missing ten percent (10%) or more of yearly 2
school time for ex cused or unexcused reasons throughout the school 3
year[Quality of school climate and safety]; 4
5.[4.] High school graduation rates; 5
6. Beginning July 1, 2030, targeted quality measures, which shall 6
include a measure of the change from the prior school year on the 7
following factors: 8
a. The percentage of certified teachers within the school and 9
district who have attained: 10
i. Rank II status or higher as determined by the Education 11
Professional Standards Board; or 12
ii. Certification from the National Board for Professional 13
Teaching Standards; 14
b. For schools and distri cts containing students in grade eight (8), 15
the percentage of students earning at least one (1) high school 16
credit upon the completion of the student's grade eight (8) school 17
year; and 18
c. For schools and districts containing students in grade twelve 19
(12), the percentage of graduating students who have: 20
i. Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by 21
the student's graduation date; or 22
ii. A parent or legal guardian that has submitted an 23
appropriate form to the school or district to opt out of 24
completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 25
after completing a district -approved presentation regarding 26
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 24 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
The targeted quality measures shall have a cumulative weight in 1
accountability of no less than five percent (5%); 2
7.[5.] Postsecondary readiness for each high school student, which shall be 3
included as an academic indicator, and shall be measured by one (1) of 4
the following: 5
a. Meeting or exceeding a college readiness benchmark score on the 6
college admissions examination used as the statewide assessment 7
in KRS 158.6453(5)(b) 3.[5.] or a college placement examination 8
approved by the Council on Postsecondary Education. The college 9
readiness benchmark score shall be established by the Council on 10
Postsecondary Education; 11
b. Achieving a minimum of three (3) hours of dual credit by 12
completing a course approved by the Kentucky Board of 13
Education or qualifying for a minimum of three (3) hours of 14
postsecondary articulated credit associated with a statewide 15
articulation agreement; 16
c. Achieving a benchmark score on an Advanced Placement, 17
International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Advanced International, 18
or other nationally recognized exam approved by the Kentucky 19
Board of Education that generally qualifies the stude nt for three 20
(3) or more hours of college credit; 21
d. Completing a required number of hours or achieving a benchmark 22
within an apprenticeship, cooperative, or internship that is: 23
i. Not required to be offered as a high school course or during 24
the regular school day, week, or year; 25
ii. Aligned with a credential or associate degree; and 26
iii. Approved by the Kentucky Board of Education after 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 25 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
receiving input from the Local Superintendents Advisory 1
Council; or 2
e. Achieving any industry -recognized certifications, licensures, or 3
credentials, with more weight in accountability for industry -4
recognized certifications, licensures, or credentials identified as 5
high demand in accordance with the process described in 6
paragraph (e) of this subsection. Eligible industry -recognized 7
certifications, licensures, or credentials shall not be limited to 8
those earned in conjunction with a minimum sequence of courses. 9
Each high school shall publicly report the credits, hours, and 10
credentials on an annual basis; and 11
8.[6.] Any other fa ctor mandated by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act 12
of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-95, or its successor. 13
(c) 1. [Beginning with data from the 2020 -2021 and 2021 -2022 school years, 14
the accountability system performance for each district, school, and 15
student subgroup determined by the state indicators shall be based on a 16
combination of annual performance, hereinafter called "status," and 17
improvement over time, hereinafter called "change." 18
2. Status and change shall receive equal weight in determining overall 19
performance. For all students as a group and separately for individual 20
subgroups, status shall be determined, beginning with the data from the 21
2020-2021 academic year, by using the current year performance and 22
change shall be determined, beginning with the data from the 2021-2022 23
academic year, by using the difference in performance from the prior to 24
current year, except change shall be based on the difference in 25
performance for the prior three (3) years for the purpose of determining 26
the lowest -performing fi ve percent (5%) of schools under KRS 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 26 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
160.346(2) and (3). 1
3. For each state indicator, there shall be five (5) status levels ranging from 2
very high to very low and five (5) change levels ranging from increased 3
significantly to declined significantly. 4
4. The percentile cut scores for status and change levels shall be based on 5
distribution and shall be approved by the Kentucky Department of 6
Education and the Local Superintendents Advisory Council. The cut 7
scores shall remain in place for at least six (6) years unless existing cut 8
scores no longer support meaningful differentiation of schools as 9
required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 10
114-95, or its successor. 11
(d) Beginning in the fall of 2022, ] The Kentucky Department of Educatio n shall 12
develop an online display of the state accountability system results 13
hereinafter called a "dashboard." A color -coded performance level for 14
each state indicator and overall performance shall be displayed in a 15
straightforward manner on the dashboard [for overall performance, 16
status, and change ]by district, school, and individual subgroups. Overall 17
performance shall aggregate all available data for the state indicators. 18
2. The percentile cut scores for the color -coded performance level for 19
each state indicator and overall performance shall be based on 20
distribution and shall be approved by the Kentucky Department of 21
Education and the Local Superintendents Advisory Council. The cut 22
scores shall remain in place for at least six (6) years unless existing 23
cut scores no longer support a meaningful differentiation of schools 24
as required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. 25
No. 114-95, or its successor. 26
(d)[(e)] Based on data from the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 27 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
Statistics, each local workforce investment board, in conjunction with local 1
economic development organizations from its state regional sector, shall 2
annually compile a list of industry -recognized certifications, licensures, and 3
credentials specific to the state and regional workforce area, rank them by 4
demand for the state and regional area, and provide the list to the Kentucky 5
Workforce Innovation Board. The Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, in 6
conjunction with the Kentucky Department of Education, may revise the lists 7
before the Kentucky Department of Education disseminates the lists to all 8
school districts to be used as postsecondary readiness indicators. 9
(e)[(f)] 1. The Kentucky Department of Education shall pay for the cost of 10
an assessment taken by a high school student for attaining an industry -11
recognized certification, credential, or licensure if the student 12
consecutively completes at least two (2) related career pathway courses 13
approved by the department prior to taking the assessment. 14
2. If a high school student has not completed the two (2) course 15
requirement described in subparagraph 1. of this paragraph but meets 16
performance-based experience eligibility and pa sses an assessment, the 17
department shall provide a weighted reimbursement amount to the 18
school district for the cost of the assessment based on the level of 19
demand of the certificate, credential, or license earned. The Kentucky 20
Board of Education shall pro mulgate regulations establishing the 21
performance-based experience eligibility requirements and weighted 22
reimbursement amounts. 23
(f)[(g)] Prior to promulgating administrative regulations to revise the 24
accountability system, the board shall seek advice from t he School 25
Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Council; the Office of Education 26
Accountability; the Education Assessment and Accountability Review 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 28 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
Subcommittee; and the department's technical advisory committee. 1
(2) A student's test scores shall be counted in the accountability measure of: 2
(a) 1. The school in which the student is currently enrolled if the student has 3
been enrolled in that school for at least a full academic year as defined 4
by the Kentucky Board of Education; or 5
2. The school in which the student was previously enrolled if the student 6
was enrolled in that school for at least a full academic year as defined by 7
the Kentucky Board of Education; and 8
(b) The school district if the student is enrolled in the district for at least a full 9
academic year as defined by the Kentucky Board of Education; and 10
(c) The state if the student is enrolled in a Kentucky public school prior to the 11
beginning of the statewide testing period. 12
(3) After receiving the advice of the Office of Education Accountabili ty; the School 13
Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Council; and the department's 14
technical advisory committee, the Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate 15
an administrative regulation in conformity with KRS 158.6471 and 158.6472 and 16
KRS Chapter 13A to establish more rigorous action, intervention, and appropriate 17
consequences for schools that fail to exit comprehensive support and improvement 18
status described in KRS 160.346. The consequences shall be designed to improve 19
the academic performance a nd learning environment of identified schools and may 20
include but not be limited to: 21
(a) A review and audit process to determine the appropriateness of a school's or 22
district's classification and to recommend needed assistance; 23
(b) School and district improvement plans; 24
(c) Eligibility to receive Commonwealth school improvement funds under KRS 25
158.805; 26
(d) Education assistance from highly skilled certified staff; and 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 29 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(e) Observation of school personnel. 1
(4) All students who drop out of school during a schoo l year shall be included in a 2
school's annual average school graduation rate calculation. 3
(5) After receiving the advice of the Education Assessment and Accountability Review 4
Subcommittee, the Office of Education Accountability; the School Curriculum, 5
Assessment, and Accountability Council; and the department's technical advisory 6
committee, the Kentucky Board of Education may promulgate by administrative 7
regulation, in conformity with KRS 158.6471 and 158.6472 and KRS Chapter 13A, 8
a system of district accou ntability that includes establishing a formula for 9
accountability, goals for improvement over a three (3) year period, rewards for 10
leadership in improving teaching and learning in the district, and consequences that 11
address the problems and provide assista nce when one (1) or more schools in the 12
district fail to exit comprehensive support and improvement status after three (3) 13
consecutive years of implementing the turnaround intervention process described in 14
KRS 160.346. 15
(6) After receiving the advice of the Office of Education Accountability; the School 16
Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Council; and the department's 17
technical advisory committee, the Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate 18
administrative regulations in conformity with KRS 158.64 71 and 158.6472 and 19
KRS Chapter 13A to establish a process whereby a school or school district shall be 20
allowed to appeal any performance judgment made by the department under this 21
section or KRS 160.346 of a principal, superintendent, school, or school di strict 22
which it considers grossly unfair. Upon appeal, an administrative hearing shall be 23
conducted in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B. The state board may adjust a 24
performance judgment on appeal when evidence of unusual circumstances warrants 25
the conclusi on that the performance judgment is based on fraud or a mistake in 26
computations, is arbitrary, is lacking any reasonable basis, or when there are 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 30 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
significant new circumstances occurring during the three (3) year assessment period 1
which are beyond the control of the appellant school or school district. 2
(7) Advice and recommendations provided by the department's technical advisory 3
committee shall be summarized and reported by the department by July 1 and 4
December 1 of each year to the Office of Education Accountability. The report shall 5
include: 6
(a) Advice and recommendations provided by panel members relating to: 7
1. Development and modification to the assessment and accountability 8
system; 9
2. The development of administrative regulations governing the 10
assessment and accountability system; 11
3. The setting of standards used in the assessment and accountability 12
system; and 13
4. KRS 158.6453, 158.6455, 158.782, or 158.860; and 14
(b) Any documentation used by the panel in support of the panel's advice and 15
recommendations. 16
Upon receipt of the report, the Office of Education Accountability shall forward the 17
report to the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee and 18
the co-chairs of the Interim Joint Committee on Education. 19
Section 4. KRS 158.6459 is amended to read as follows: 20
(1) A high school student whose highest score on the college admissions examination 21
under KRS 158.6453(5)(b) 3.[5.] in English, reading, or mathematics is below the 22
systemwide standard established by the Council on Postsecondary Education for 23
entry into a credit -bearing course at a public postsecondary institution without 24
placement in a remedial course or an entry -level course with supplementary 25
academic support shall be provided the opportunity to participate in accelerated 26
learning designed to address his or her identified academic deficiencies prior to 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 31 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
high school graduation. 1
(2) A high school, in collaboration with its school district, shall develop and implement 2
accelerated learning that: 3
(a) Allows a student's learning plan to be individualized to meet the student's 4
academic needs based on an assessment of test results and consultation among 5
parents, teachers, and the student; and 6
(b) May include changes in a student's class schedule. 7
(3) The Kentucky Department of Education, the Council on Postsecondary Education, 8
and public postsecondary institutions shall offer support and technical assistance to 9
schools and school districts in the development of accelerated learning. 10
Section 5. KRS 164.7874 is amended to read as follows: 11
As used in KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885: 12
(1) "Academic term" means a semester or other time period specified in an 13
administrative regulation promulgated by the authority; 14
(2) "Academic year" means a period consisting of at least the minimum school term, as 15
defined in KRS 158.070; 16
(3) "ACT score" means the composite score achieved on the American College Test at 17
a na tional test site on a national test date or the college admissions examination 18
administered statewide under KRS 158.6453(5)(b) 3.[5.] if the exam is the ACT, or 19
an equivalent score, as determined by the authority, on the SAT administered by the 20
College Board, Inc.; 21
(4) "Authority" means the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; 22
(5) "Award period" means the fall and spring consecutive academic terms within one 23
(1) academic year; 24
(6) "Council" means the Council on Postsecondary Education created unde r KRS 25
164.011; 26
(7) "Eligible high school student" means any person who: 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 32 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(a) Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and Kentucky 1
resident; 2
(b) Was enrolled after July 1, 1998: 3
1. In a Kentucky high school for at least one hundred forty (140) days of 4
the minimum school term unless exempted by the authority's executive 5
director upon documentation of extreme hardship, while meeting the 6
KEES curriculum requirements, and was enrolled in a Kentucky high 7
school at the end of the academic year; 8
2. In a Kentucky high school for the fall academic term of the senior year 9
and who: 10
a. Was enrolled during the entire academic term; 11
b. Completed the high school's graduation requirements during the 12
fall academic term; and 13
c. Was not enrolled in a s econdary school during any other academic 14
term of that academic year; or 15
3. In the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the 16
Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, or in high 17
school at a model and practice school under KRS 164.380 while meeting 18
the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship curriculum 19
requirements; 20
(c) Has a grade point average of 2.5 or above at the end of any academic year 21
beginning after July 1, 1998, or at the end of the fall academic term for a 22
student eligible under paragraph (b)[ ]2. of this subsection; and 23
(d) Is not a convicted felon; 24
(8) "Eligible postsecondary student" means a citizen, national, or permanent resident of 25
the United States and Kentucky resident, as determined by the participating 26
institution in accordance with criteria established by the council for the purposes of 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 33 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
admission and tuition assessment, who: 1
(a) Earned a KEES award; 2
(b) Has the required postsecondary GPA and credit hours required under KRS 3
164.7881; 4
(c) Has remaining semesters of eligibility under KRS 164.7881; 5
(d) Is enrolled in a participating institution as a part-time or full-time student; and 6
(e) Is not a convicted felon; 7
(9) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary program of study 8
that meets the full -time student requirements of the participating institution in 9
which the student is enrolled; 10
(10) "Grade point average" or "GPA" means the grade point average earned by an 11
eligible student and reported by the high school or participating institution in which 12
the student was enrolled based on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent if the high school 13
or participating institution that the student attends does not use the 4.0 grade scale; 14
(11) "High school" means any Kentucky public high school, the Gatton Academy of 15
Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the Craft Academy for Excellence in 16
Science and Mathematics, a high school of a model and practice school u nder KRS 17
164.380, and any private, parochial, or church school located in Kentucky that has 18
been certified by the Kentucky Board of Education as voluntarily complying with 19
curriculum, certification, and textbook standards established by the Kentucky Board 20
of Education under KRS 156.160; 21
(12) "KEES" or "Kentucky educational excellence scholarship" means a scholarship 22
provided under KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885; 23
(13) "KEES award" means: 24
(a) For an eligible high school student, the sum of the KEES base amount for 25
each academic year of high school plus any KEES supplemental amount, as 26
adjusted pursuant to KRS 164.7881; and 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 34 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(b) For a student eligible under KRS 164.7879(3)(e), the KEES supplemental 1
amount as adjusted pursuant to KRS 164.7881; 2
(14) "KEES award maximum" means the sum of the KEES base amount earned in each 3
academic year of high school plus any KEES supplemental amount earned; 4
(15) "KEES base amount" or "base amount" means the amount earned by an eligible 5
high school student based on the student's GPA pursuant to KRS 164.7879; 6
(16) "KEES curriculum" means five (5) courses of study, except for students who meet 7
the criteria of subsection (7)(b)2. of this section, in an academic year as determined 8
in accordance with an administrative regulation promulgated by the authority; 9
(17) "KEES supplemental amount" means the amount earned by an eligible student 10
based on the student's ACT score pursuant to KRS 164.7879; 11
(18) "KEES trust fund" means the Wallace G. Wilkinson Kentucky educational 12
excellence scholarship trust fund; 13
(19) "On track to graduate" means the number of cumulative credit hours earned as 14
compared to the number of hours determined by the postsecondary education 15
institution as necessary to complete a bachelor's degree by the end of eight (8) 16
academic te rms or ten (10) academic terms if a student is enrolled in an 17
undergraduate program that requires five (5) years of study; 18
(20) "Participating institution" means an "institution" as defined in KRS 164.001 that is 19
eligible to participate in the federal Pell Grant program, executes a contract with the 20
authority on terms the authority deems necessary or appropriate for the 21
administration of its programs, and: 22
(a) 1. Is publicly operated; 23
2. Is licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has operated for at 24
least ten (10) years, offers an associate or baccalaureate degree program 25
of study not comprised solely of sectarian instruction, and admits as 26
regular students only high school graduates, recipients of a High School 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 35 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
Equivalency Diploma, or students transfer ring from another accredited 1
degree granting institution; or 2
3. Is designated by the authority as an approved out -of-state institution that 3
offers a degree program in a field of study that is not offered at any 4
institution in the Commonwealth; and 5
(b) Continues to commit financial resources to student financial assistance 6
programs; and 7
(21) "Part-time student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary program of study 8
who does not meet the full-time student requirements of the participating institution 9
in which the student is enrolled and who is enrolled for at least six (6) credit hours, 10
or the equivalent for an institution that does not use credit hours. 11
Section 6. KRS 157.069 is amended to read as follows: 12
(1) As used in this section: 13
(a) "Administrative operations costs" means costs associated with the operations 14
and staffing of a state -operated area technology center, including but not 15
limited to personnel, facility costs, building utilities and maintenance, and 16
custodial and office supplies; 17
(b) "Approved career and technical education dual credit" means earning a grade 18
of "C" or higher for a Kentucky Department of Education -approved career 19
and technical education dual credit course equivalent to three (3) hours of 20
college credit; 21
(c) "Approved career and technical education pathway" means a four (4) course 22
career and technical education pathway approved by the Kentucky 23
Department of Education that provides a coherent, articulated sequence of 24
rigorous academic and career -related courses wi thin a career and technical 25
education program area, and leads to an associate degree, an industry -26
recognized certificate or license, or a baccalaureate or higher degree; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 36 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
(d) "Concentrator" means a student who has earned at least two (2) credits for no 1
less than two (2) courses in a single career and technical education pathway; 2
(e) "Converted career and technical education center" means a center providing 3
locally operated career and technical education for which a local district 4
assumed authority from the state for the management and control of the center 5
during the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, or 2022-2023 academic years; 6
(f) "General-cost career and technical education program" means a career and 7
technical education program or pathway in which high -cost technical 8
equipment, materials, or facilities are not required; 9
(g) "General-cost full -time equivalents" means the total number of secondary 10
students enrolled in general -cost career and technical education programs, 11
multiplied by the number of hours those students are enrolled, and divided by 12
six (6) hours; 13
(h) "High-cost career and technical education program" means a career and 14
technical education program or pathway in which high -cost equipment, 15
materials, or facilities are required; 16
(i) "Locally operated career a nd technical education" means a district program 17
that provides secondary students with one (1) or more approved career and 18
technical education pathways; 19
(j) "State-operated area technology center" means a state -operated secondary 20
school facility with the p rimary purpose of offering approved career and 21
technical education pathways; 22
(k) "Supplemental funding" or "supplemental funds" means moneys appropriated 23
by the General Assembly to support qualifying locally operated career and 24
technical education centers and programs and state -operated area technology 25
centers and programs based on enrollment and incentive criteria; 26
(l) "Technical skill attainment" means earning an industry -recognized 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 37 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
certification, licensure, or credential as identified by the Kentucky Wo rkforce 1
Innovation Board pursuant to KRS 158.6455(1) (d)[(e)] or passing an end -of-2
program assessment for articulated postsecondary credit as designated by the 3
Kentucky Department of Education Office of Career and Technical 4
Education; 5
(m) "Weighted high -cost full -time equivalents" means the total number of 6
secondary students enrolled in high -cost career and technical education 7
programs, multiplied by the number of credit hours in which those students 8
are enrolled, divided by six (6) hours, and multiplied by one and one -half 9
(1.5); and 10
(n) "Work-based learning program" means a cooperative education program, 11
internship, or registered apprenticeship within the student's chosen approved 12
career and technical education pathway. 13
(2) The Kentucky Department of Educat ion shall provide funds from the department's 14
annual general fund appropriation to support the administrative operations costs of 15
state-operated area technology centers and converted career and technical education 16
centers. 17
(3) For converted career and tech nical education centers, beginning with fiscal year 18
2024-2025, the Kentucky Department of Education shall deduct from funds 19
designated for the state -operated area technology centers an amount equal to the 20
administrative operations costs of each converted c areer and technical education 21
center in the amount received by the center in the most recent fiscal year that the 22
center was under state management and control. The funds for each converted 23
career and technical education center shall be divided as follows: 24
(a) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the funds shall be sent to the local district that 25
has assumed management and control of the center; and 26
(b) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the funds shall be sent to the career and 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 38 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
technical education innovation and suppor t fund established in subsection (4) 1
of this section. 2
(4) (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a restricted fund to be known 3
as the career and technical education innovation and support fund to receive 4
the funds allocated under subsection (3)(b) of this section. The fund shall 5
consist of moneys received from state appropriations, gifts, grants, and federal 6
funds. The fund shall be administered by the Office of Career and Technical 7
Education. Amounts deposited in the fund shall be used for: 8
1. Supporting innovation in new or emerging career fields; 9
2. Supporting state-operated area technology centers that may experience 10
hardship or natural disasters; 11
3. Personnel costs to provide technical assistance to local districts 12
providing locally opera ted career and technical education, including 13
technical assistance relating to the monitoring and oversight on the use 14
of supplemental career and technical education funding; and 15
4. Any other purposes reasonably related to improving student outcomes in 16
career and technical education. 17
(b) Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, fund amounts not expended at the close of a 18
fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be carried forward into the next fiscal year. 19
(5) Beginning with the 2024 -2025 fiscal year and for each fiscal ye ar thereafter, the 20
Kentucky Department of Education shall distribute to local districts providing 21
locally operated career and technical education and to state -operated area 22
technology centers all general funds designated as supplemental funds to career and 23
technical education programs, subject to the following: 24
(a) A local district providing locally operated career and technical education or a 25
state-operated area technology center shall maintain eligibility for receipt of 26
federal funding pursuant to the Strengthening Career and Technical Education 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 39 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
for the 21st Century Act, Pub. L. No. 115 -224, to be eligible to receive 1
supplemental funding pursuant to this subsection; 2
(b) All supplemental funds distributed pursuant to this subsection shall be used to 3
improve student outcomes in career and technical education pathways for 4
students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12), including but not limited to 5
student supplies, resource s, materials, and equipment that is designed for 6
enhanced quality of instruction in a career and technical education pathway, 7
the purchase and maintenance of industry standard equipment, assisting 8
students with achieving technical skill attainment, and sup porting career and 9
technical student organization participation; 10
(c) 1. Supplemental funds for career and technical education shall be divided 11
and allocated to each local district providing locally operated career and 12
technical education and to each state -operated area technology center, 13
with sixty percent (60%) dedicated for enrollment -based funding and 14
forty percent (40%) for incentive-based funding. 15
2. The sixty percent (60%) enrollment -based funding shall be based on a 16
statewide full-time equivalent calculation of the total weighted high-cost 17
full-time equivalents and general -cost full -time equivalents during the 18
prior school year, subject to the following: 19
a. The department shall then distribute the enrollment -based funds 20
for each state -operated area t echnology center or local district 21
providing locally operated career and technical education based on 22
the center's or district's proportional share of the combined 23
weighted high-cost full-time equivalents and general-cost full-time 24
equivalents of the prior year; 25
b. The department shall distribute the state -operated area technology 26
center fund portion to the respective state -operated area 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 40 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
technology centers and the local district fund portion to the 1
respective local districts; and 2
c. The department shall classify qualifying programs as either a high-3
cost career and technical education program or a general -cost 4
career and technical education program. 5
3. The forty percent (40%) incentives -based funding shall be based on an 6
annual statewide calculation of the to tal number of qualifying student 7
incentives. The calculation shall only use students that are in grade 8
twelve (12) and use the total incentives earned by those students during 9
secondary education at a state-operated area technology center or within 10
a local district. Once a student has been included in a year's calculation, 11
that student shall not be included in any subsequent year's calculation, 12
subject to the following: 13
a. Qualifying student incentives for students in their grade twelve 14
(12) year shall include: 15
i. Reaching the designation of a concentrator; 16
ii. Technical skill attainment; 17
iii. Completing a required number of hours or achieving a 18
benchmark within a work-based learning program; and 19
iv. Earning an approved career and technical education dual 20
credit; 21
b. The incentives in subdivision a. of this subparagraph shall be 22
allotted to the state -operated area technology center or local 23
district in which it was earned. Each type of incentive shall only be 24
counted once per student at state -operated area technology centers 25
and once per student at local districts for a maximum of four (4) 26
incentives per student at state -operated area technology centers 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 41 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
and four (4) incentives at local districts throughout their secondary 1
career and technical education. For inc entive criteria that is 2
achieved more than once at state-operated area technology centers, 3
the incentive shall be counted for the state -operated area 4
technology center where it was first achieved. For incentive 5
criteria that is achieved more than once at l ocal districts, the 6
incentive shall be counted for the local district where it was first 7
achieved; 8
c. The department shall distribute incentives -based funds for each 9
state-operated area technology center or local district based on the 10
center's or district's proportional share of the combined number of 11
qualifying student incentives achieved by students in grade twelve 12
(12) at a state -operated area technology center or within a local 13
district throughout their secondary career and technical education. 14
The ince ntives-based funds shall be distributed to the state -15
operated area technology center or local district in which the 16
incentive was achieved; and 17
d. The department shall distribute the state -operated area technology 18
center fund portion to the respective stat e-operated area 19
technology centers and the local district fund portion to the 20
respective local districts; 21
(d) There shall be no mid-year adjustment to the allocation of career and technical 22
education supplemental funding for a center or local district; and 23
(e) Notwithstanding the restriction in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a district 24
may submit a waiver request to the Office of Career and Technical Education 25
to use a portion of its allocation of supplemental funds for career and 26
technical education programming for students in grades (5) through eight (8). 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 42 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
The district shall submit a request which details the district's plan for career 1
and technical education programming for students in grades five (5) through 2
eight (8). In reviewing the request, the Off ice of Career and Technical 3
Education shall consider whether: 4
1. The district details a plan for orientation and exploration of broad -based 5
industries by giving students knowledge and experience regarding 6
careers within these industries and exploratory or hands-on skills used in 7
the industry; 8
2. There is direct alignment between middle and secondary career and 9
technical education pathways within the requesting district; and 10
3. Such designation of supplemental funding for programming for students 11
in grades f ive (5) through eight (8) does not have a significant 12
detrimental impact on the programming available for students in 13
secondary grades. 14
(6) The Office of Career and Technical Education shall monitor and provide oversight 15
of state funds distributed pursuant to this section to ensure that the use of funding 16
by eligible recipients meets the approved criteria as described in this section. 17
(7) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations in 18
accordance with KRS Chapter 13A as may be needed in the administration of this 19
section and for disbursement of moneys. 20
(8) The Kentucky Department of Education shall publish on the department's website: 21
(a) The list of all career and technical education programs available to students 22
and the prog ram's designation as a high -cost career and technical education 23
program or as a general-cost career and technical education program; 24
(b) A report of the supplemental funding amounts provided to each local district 25
and to each state-operated area technology center, including an explanation of 26
the amount designated as enrollment -based funding and as incentives -based 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 43 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
funding; and 1
(c) A report of the administrative operations costs provided to each state-operated 2
area technology center and to each converted career and technical education 3
center, as well as the amount contributed toward the career and technical 4
education innovation and support fund. 5
Section 7. No later than N ovember 1, 2026, the Kentucky Department of 6
Education shall submit a study report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral 7
to the Interim Joint Committee on Education on middle school mathematics and 8
advanced mathematics coursework opportunities. At a minimum, the report shall address: 9
(1) Existing local policies and procedures governing student assignment to 10
advanced mathematics coursework in general and advanced middle school mathematics 11
coursework specifically; 12
(2) The current availability of advanced mathematics coursework in Kentucky 13
public middle schools, identifying the following for public middle schools that offer 14
advanced mathematics coursework: 15
(a) Eligibility criteria for students to be identified for participation in the 16
advanced mathematics coursework; 17
(b) Methods for how students are being identified for participation in the 18
advanced mathematics coursework; 19
(c) For each school district, the number and percentage of students participating 20
in advanced mathematics coursework opportunities by grade level; 21
(d) For each school district, the number and percentage of students who complete 22
advanced middle school mathematics coursework and enroll in Algebra I by grade 8; 23
(e) The defined sequence of advanced mathematics coursework offered in gra des 24
6 to 8 and the means of delivering those offerings to students, including whether the 25
course is: 26
1. Offered virtually, in person, or both; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 44 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
2. Offered exclusively to middle school students or in a combined setting with 1
middle and high school students; and 2
3. Taught by a teacher whose primary course load is middle school students or 3
taught by a teacher whose primary course load is high school students; 4
(f) Whether any advanced mathematics coursework previously offered is no 5
longer available to students and the reason for no longer offering that coursework; 6
(g) How the school districts are providing appropriate staffing to support offering 7
access to advanced mathematics coursework; and 8
(h) Barriers the school districts encountered in providing advanced math ematics 9
coursework opportunities, and strategies for overcoming these barriers; 10
(3) A list of each middle school that does not offer advanced mathematics 11
coursework to students that identifies: 12
(a) The accelerated learning opportunities to which middle sc hool students in 13
each identified school are offered access; 14
(b) The specific staffing and facility needs for each identified school to transition 15
to offering access to advanced mathematics coursework; 16
(c) Any scheduling constraints reported by each identi fied school as a barrier to 17
offering access to advanced mathematics coursework; 18
(d) Other barriers identified by school districts to offering middle school students 19
enrolled in each identified school access to advanced mathematics coursework; and 20
(e) If th e middle school historically offered advanced mathematics coursework, 21
the specific reasons the school no longer offers that coursework; 22
(4) The recent rates of participation in advanced mathematics courses of middle 23
school students, identifying the number and percentage of students in each school 24
district's current grade 9, grade 10, grade 11, and grade 12 cohorts that successfully 25
completed designated advanced coursework in middle school; 26
(5) Best-practice strategies for ensuring that students are academ ically prepared 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 257/EN
Page 45 of 45
HB025720.100 - 1141 - XXXX 4/1/2026 10:41 PM Engrossed
for advanced middle school mathematics coursework, including identification of 1
advanced coursework opportunities or other academic enrichment opportunities that best 2
prepare students for Algebra I coursework by grade 8; 3
(6) Analysis of school district capacity and needs to implement a policy providing 4
all public school students in Kentucky with access to Algebra I coursework by grade 8, 5
including but not limited to: 6
(a) The availability of qualified teachers and staff to support implementat ion of 7
the policy across each region of the Commonwealth; 8
(b) The scheduling constraints reported by each district; 9
(c) Course selection availability in each district and projected enrollment caps; 10
and 11
(d) Facility, technology, and distance-learning capacity of each district; 12
(7) An analysis of any curriculum gaps between advanced mathematics 13
coursework and grade -level mathematics standards for the courses in which the student 14
would otherwise be enrolled and strategies to ensure that advanced mathematics students 15
master those grade-level standards; and 16
(8) Legislative recommendations to promote and encourage advanced 17
mathematics coursework for middle school students, including but not limited to 18
recommended strategies for: 19
(a) Automatic enrollment in advanced middle school mathematics coursework; 20
(b) Identifying middle school students to participate in advance mathematics 21
coursework; and 22
(c) Small, medium, and large school districts to implement advanced 23
mathematics coursework. 24
Section 8. Notwithst anding KRS 156.070(6), the Kentucky Department of 25
Education is hereby authorized to collect data and reports from Kentucky public schools 26
and school districts relevant to inform the study report required by Section 7 of this Act. 27