AN ACT relating to KEES scholarships for students attending noncertified schools.

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AN ACT relating to KEES scholarships for students attending noncertified schools. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 164.7874 is amended to read as follows: 3
As used in KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885: 4
(1) "Academic term" means a semester or other time period specified in an 5
administrative regulation promulgated by the authority; 6
(2) "Academic year" means a period consisting of at least the minimum school term, as 7
defined in KRS 158.070; 8
(3) "ACT score" means: 9
(a) The composite score achieved on the American College Test at a national test 10
site on a national test date or the college admissions examination administered 11
statewide under KRS 158.6453(5)(b)5. if the exam is the ACT;[,] or 12
(b) An equivalent score, as determined by the authority, on the SAT administered 13
by the College Board, Inc.; 14
(4) "Authority" means the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; 15
(5) "Award period" means the fall and spring consecutive academic terms within one 16
(1) academic year; 17
(6) "Council" means the Council on Postsecondary Education created under KRS 18
164.011; 19
(7) "Eligible high school student" means any person who: 20
(a) Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and a 21
Kentucky resident; 22
(b) Was enrolled[ after July 1, 1998]: 23
1. In a Kentucky high school for at least one hundred forty (140) days of 24
the minimum school term unless exempted by the authority's executive 25
director upon documentation of extreme hardship, while meeting the 26
KEES curriculum requiremen ts, and was enrolled in a Kentucky high 27
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school at the end of the academic year; 1
2. In a Kentucky high school for the fall academic term of the senior year 2
and who: 3
a. Was enrolled during the entire academic term; 4
b. Completed the high school's graduation r equirements during the 5
fall academic term; and 6
c. Was not enrolled in a secondary school during any other academic 7
term of that academic year; or 8
3. In the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the 9
Craft Academy for Excellence in Science a nd Mathematics, or in high 10
school at a model and practice school under KRS 164.380 while meeting 11
the KEES[Kentucky educational excellence scholarship] curriculum 12
requirements; 13
(c) Has a grade point average of 2.5 or above at the end of any academic year [ 14
beginning after July 1, 1998] , or at the end of the fall academic term for a 15
student eligible under paragraph (b)2.[(b) 2.] of this subsection; and 16
(d) Is not a convicted felon; 17
(8) "Eligible noncertified school graduate" means any person who: 18
(a) Is a citi zen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and a 19
Kentucky resident; 20
(b) Graduates in the 2026 -2027 academic year or thereafter from a Kentucky 21
nonpublic secondary school not certified by the Kentucky Board of 22
Education; 23
(c) Is not a convicted felon; and 24
(d) Completes all KEES noncertified school student application requirements 25
set by the authority; 26
(9) "Eligible postsecondary student" means a person who is a citizen, national, or 27
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permanent resident of the United States and a Kentucky resident, as determined by 1
the participating institution in accordance with criteria established by the council 2
for the purposes of admission and tuition assessment, who: 3
(a) Earned a KEES award; 4
(b) Has the required postsecondary GPA and credit hours required un der KRS 5
164.7881; 6
(c) Has remaining semesters of eligibility under KRS 164.7881; 7
(d) Is enrolled in a participating institution as a part-time or full-time student; and 8
(e) Is not a convicted felon; 9
(10)[(9)] "Full-time student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary program of 10
study that meets the full-time student requirements of the participating institution in 11
which the student is enrolled; 12
(11)[(10)] "Grade point average" or "GPA" means the grade poin t average that is earned 13
by an eligible student and reported by the high school or participating institution in 14
which the student was enrolled based on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent if the high 15
school or participating institution that the student attend s does not use the 4.0 grade 16
scale; 17
(12)[(11)] "High school" means any Kentucky public high school, the Gatton Academy 18
of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the Craft Academy for Excellence in 19
Science and Mathematics, a high school of a model and practic e school under KRS 20
164.380, and any private, parochial, or church school located in Kentucky that has 21
been certified by the Kentucky Board of Education as voluntarily complying with 22
curriculum, certification, and textbook standards established by the Kentucky Board 23
of Education under KRS 156.160; 24
(13)[(12)] "KEES" or "Kentucky educational excellence scholarship" means a 25
scholarship provided under KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885; 26
(14)[(13)] "KEES award" means: 27
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(a) For an eligible high school student, the sum of the KEES base amount for 1
each academic year of high school plus any KEES supplemental amount, as 2
adjusted pursuant to KRS 164.7881;[ and] 3
(b) For an eligible noncertified school graduate, the KEES base amount 4
described in subsection (1) of Section 2 of this A ct multiplied by four (4) 5
plus any KEES supplemental amount, as adjusted pursuant to Section 3 of 6
this Act; and 7
(c) For a student eligible under KRS 164.7879(3) (d)[(e)] who is not an eligible 8
noncertified school graduate , the KEES supplemental amount as ad justed 9
pursuant to KRS 164.7881; 10
(15)[(14)] "KEES award maximum" means the sum of the KEES base amount earned in 11
each academic year of high school plus any KEES supplemental amount earned or 12
for an eligible noncertified school graduate, the amount describe d in subsection 13
(14)(b) of this section; 14
(16)[(15)] "KEES base amount" or "base amount" means the amount earned by an 15
eligible high school student based on the student's GPA , or for an eligible 16
noncertified school graduate the equivalent GPA based on the s tudent's ACT 17
score, pursuant to KRS 164.7879; 18
(17)[(16)] "KEES curriculum" means five (5) courses of study, except for students who 19
meet the criteria of subsection (7)(b)2. of this section, in an academic year as 20
determined in accordance with an administra tive regulation promulgated by the 21
authority; 22
(18)[(17)] "KEES supplemental amount" means the amount earned by an eligible student 23
based on the student's ACT score pursuant to KRS 164.7879; 24
(19)[(18)] "KEES trust fund" means the Wallace G. Wilkinson Kentucky educational 25
excellence scholarship trust fund; 26
(20)[(19)] "On track to graduate" means the number of cumulative credit hours earned as 27
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compared to the number of hours determined by the postsecondary education 1
institution as necessary to complete a bachelor's degree by the end of eight (8) 2
academic terms or te n (10) academic terms if a student is enrolled in an 3
undergraduate program that requires five (5) years of study; 4
(21)[(20)] "Participating institution" means an "institution" as defined in KRS 164.001 5
that is eligible to participate in the federal Pell Gr ant program, executes a contract 6
with the authority on terms the authority deems necessary or appropriate for the 7
administration of its programs, and: 8
(a) 1. Is publicly operated; 9
2. Is licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has operated for at 10
least ten (10) years, offers an associate or baccalaureate degree program 11
of study not comprised solely of sectarian instruction, and admits as 12
regular students only high school graduates, recipients of a High School 13
Equivalency Diploma, or students transferrin g from another accredited 14
degree granting institution; or 15
3. Is designated by the authority as an approved out -of-state institution that 16
offers a degree program in a field of study that is not offered at any 17
institution in the Commonwealth; and 18
(b) Continues to commit financial resources to student financial assistance 19
programs; and 20
(22)[(21)] "Part-time student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary program of 21
study who does not meet the full -time student requirements of the participating 22
institution in which the student is enrolled and who is enrolled for at least six (6) 23
credit hours, or the equivalent for an institution that does not use credit hours. 24
Section 2. KRS 164.7879 is amended to read as follows: 25
(1) (a) Kentucky educational excellence scholarship awards shall be based upon an 26
established base scholarship amount and an eligible high school student's 27
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grade point average or the equivalent grade point average for an eligible 1
noncertified school graduate as d escribed in paragraph (b) of this 2
subsection. The base scholarship amount for students attaining a grade point 3
average of at least 2.5[ for the 1998-1999 academic year] shall be as follows: 4
GPA Amount GPA Amount 5
2.50 $125.00 3.30 $325.00 6
2.60 $150.00 3.40 $350.00 7
2.70 $175.00 3.50 $375.00 8
2.75 $187.00 3.60 $400.00 9
2.80 $200.00 3.70 $425.00 10
2.90 $225.00 3.75 $437.00 11
3.00 $250.00 3.80 $450.00 12
3.10 $275.00 3.90 $475.00 13
3.20 $300.00 4.00 $500.00 14
3.25 $312.00 15
The authority shall review the base amount of the KEES[Kentucky 16
educational excellence scholarship] each academic year and may promulgate 17
an administrative regulation to make adjustments after consid ering the 18
availability of funds. 19
(b) For an eligible noncertified school graduate, the equivalent grade point 20
average shall be based on the graduate's ACT score. The base amount shall 21
equal the GPA's corresponding dollar award in paragraph (a) of this 22
subsection. The ACT to GPA conversion values are as follows: 23
ACT GPA ACT GPA 24
18 2.70 24 3.30 25
19 2.70 25 3.70 26
20 3.00 26 3.70 27
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21 3.00 27 3.70 1
22 3.30 28+ 4.00 2
23 3.30 3
(2) (a) The authority shall commit to provide to each eligible high school student the 4
base amount of the KEES[Kentucky educational excellence scholarship] for 5
each academic year of high school study in the KEES[Kentucky educational 6
excellence scholarship] curriculum that the high school student has attained at 7
least a 2.5 grade point average. The award shall be based upon the eligible 8
high school student's grade point average at the close of each academic year. 9
An award attributable to a past academic year shall not be increased after t he 10
award has been earned by an eligible high school student, regardless of any 11
subsequent increases made to the base amount of the KEES[Kentucky 12
educational excellence scholarship] through the promulgation of an 13
administrative regulation by the authority. 14
(b) Notwithstanding the definitions of "eligible high school student" and "high 15
school" in KRS 164.7874, any high school student who maintains Kentucky 16
residency and completes the academic courses that are required for a 17
KEES[Kentucky educational excellence scholarship] while participating in an 18
approved educational high school foreign exchange program or participating 19
in the United States Congressional Page School may apply his or her grade 20
point average for that academic year toward the base as described in 21
paragraph (a) of this subsection. The grade point average shall be reported by 22
the student's Kentucky home high school, based on an official transcript from 23
the school that the student attended during the out -of-state educational 24
experience. The authori ty shall promulgate administrative regulations that 25
describe the approval process for the educational exchange programs that 26
qualify under this paragraph. The provisions in this paragraph shall likewise 27
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apply to any Kentucky high school student who partici pated in an approved 1
educational exchange program or in a Congressional Page School [ since the 2
1998-99 school year] and maintained his or her Kentucky residency 3
throughout. 4
(c) 1. Notwithstanding the definitions of "eligible high school student" and 5
"high school" in KRS 164.7874 and the requirement that a student 6
graduate from a Kentucky high school, a high school student who 7
completes the KEES curriculum while attending an accredited out -of-8
state high school or Department of Defense school may apply the gr ade 9
point average for any applicable academic year toward the base as 10
described in paragraph (a) of this subsection and shall also qualify for a 11
supplemental award under subsection (3) of this section when: 12
a. His or her custodial parent or guardian is in active service of the 13
Armed Forces of the United States; 14
b. The student attended an accredited out -of-state high school or a 15
Department of Defense school as a result of the custodial parent's 16
or guardian's military transfer outside of Kentucky; and 17
c. The student earned a KEES base amount at a Kentucky high 18
school prior to the custodial parent's or guardian's military transfer 19
outside of Kentucky. 20
2. The student or parent shall arrange for the out -of-state school to report 21
the student's grade point aver age each academic year and the student's 22
highest ACT score to the authority as required under KRS 164.7885. 23
The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations implementing 24
the requirements in this paragraph, including: 25
a. The documentation that the parent shall submit to the authority 26
establishing the student's eligibility for the scholarship; and 27
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b. The assurances that an out -of-state institution shall submit to the 1
authority for submission of the student grade point average. 2
3. The provisions in th is paragraph shall apply to the 2001 -2002 school 3
year and thereafter. 4
(d) [Beginning with the 2013 -2014 academic year, ] A student who meets the 5
Kentucky core academic standards for high school graduation established in 6
administrative regulation and graduat es after completing three (3) years of 7
high school shall receive a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship 8
award equivalent to completing high school in four (4) years. The award shall 9
be determined by dividing the total actual KEES scholarship earned under 10
subsection (1) of this section by three (3) and multiplying that number by four 11
(4). The resulting number shall be the annual award the student is eligible for 12
under subsection (1) of this section. 13
(3) (a) [The authority shall commit to provide to ea ch eligible high school student 14
graduating from high school before June 30, 1999, and achieving a score of at 15
least 15 on the American College Test, a supplemental award for the award 16
period beginning in the fall of 1999, based on the eligible high school 17
student's highest ACT score attained by the date of graduation from high 18
school. The amount of the supplemental award shall be determined as follows: 19
ACT Annual ACT Annual 20
Score Bonus Score Bonus 21
15 $21 22 $171 22
16 $43 23 $193 23
17 $64 24 $214 24
18 $86 25 $236 25
19 $107 26 $257 26
20 $129 27 $279 27
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21 $150 28[ or above] $300 1
Subsequent supplemental awards for eligible high school students graduating 2
before June 30, 1999, shall be determined in accordance with the provisions 3
of paragraph (b) of this subsection. 4
(b) ]The authority shall commit to provide to each eligible high school student 5
upon achievement[ after June 30, 1999,] of an ACT score of at least 15 on the 6
American College Test a supplemental award based on the eligible high 7
school student's highest ACT score attained by the date of graduation from a 8
high school. The amount of the supplemental award shall be determined as 9
follows: 10
ACT ACT 11
Score Amount Score Amount 12
15 $36 22 $286 13
16 $71 23 $321 14
17 $107 24 $357 15
18 $143 25 $393 16
19 $179 26 $428 17
20 $214 27 $464 18
21 $250 28+[ and above] $500 19
The authority shall review the base amount of the supplemental award [ 20
beginning with the 2001 -2002 academic year and] each academic year [ 21
thereafter] and may promulgate an administrative regulation to make 22
adjustments after considering the availability of funds. 23
(b) 1. [(c) Beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year, ]The authority shall 24
commit to provide a supplemental award for achievement on 25
examinations for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate as 26
defined in KRS 164.002 to an eligible high s chool student whose family 27
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was eligible for free or reduced -price lunch for any year during high 1
school enrollment. 2
2.[1.] The supplemental award for AP examination scores are as follows: 3
a. Two hundred dollars ($200) for each score of three (3); 4
b. Two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each score of four (4); and 5
c. Three hundred dollars ($300) for each score of five (5). 6
3.[2.] The supplemental award for IB examination scores are[ as follows]: 7
a. Two hundred dollars ($200) for each score of five (5); 8
b. Two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each score of six (6); and 9
c. Three hundred dollars ($300) for each score of seven (7). 10
(c) [(d) Beginning with the 2013 -2014 academic year, ] The authority shall 11
commit to provide a supplemental award for achievement on examinations for 12
Cambridge Advanced International as defined in KRS 164.002 to an eligible 13
high school student whose family was eligible for free or reduced -priced 14
lunch for any year during high school enrollment. The supplemental award for 15
Cambridge Advanced International examination scores are as follows: 16
1. Two hundred dollars ($200) for each score of "e"; 17
2. Two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each score of "c" or "d"; and 18
3. Three hundred dollars ($300) for each score of "a*", "a", or "b". 19
(d)[(e)] The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations establishing in 20
accordance with KRS Chapter 13A the eligibility criteria and procedures for 21
making a supplemental award to Kentucky residents who are citizens, 22
nationals, or permanent residents of the United States and who graduate from 23
a Kentucky nonpublic secondary school not certified by the Kentucky Board 24
of Education and Kentucky residents who are citizens, nationals, or permanent 25
residents of the United States and who obtain a High School Equivale ncy 26
Diploma within five (5) years of their high school graduating class, and 27
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students under subsection (2)(c) of this section who do not attend an 1
accredited high school. 2
Section 3. KRS 164.7881 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) Eligible high school students who have graduated from high school and eligible 4
postsecondary students who have earned a Kentucky educational excellence 5
scholarship, a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship and a supplemental 6
award, or a supplemental award only pursuant to KRS 164.7879(3) (d)[(e)], shall be 7
eligible to receive the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship, the Kentucky 8
educational excellence scholarship and the supplemental award, or a supplemental 9
award only for a maximum of eight (8) academic terms in an undergraduate or other 10
postsecondary program of study at a participating institution, except as provided in 11
subsections (5) and (6) of this section. 12
(2) To receive the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship, a Kentucky 13
educational excellence scholarship and supplemental award, or a supplemental 14
award only, an eligible high school or postsecondary student shall: 15
(a) Enroll in and attend a participating institution as a full -time student or a part -16
time student; and 17
(b) Maintain eligibility as provided in subsection (3) of this section. 18
(3) Eligibility for a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship or a Kentucky 19
educational excellence scholarship and supplemental award shall terminate upon 20
the earlier of: 21
(a) The expiration of five (5) years following the student's graduation from high 22
school, except as provided in subsection (5) or (6) of this section; or 23
(b) The successful completion of an undergraduate or other postsecondary course 24
of study. However, any student who suc cessfully completes the requirements 25
for a degree or certification involving a postsecondary course of study that 26
normally requires less than eight (8) academic terms to complete may 27
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continue to receive the benefits of a Kentucky educational excellence 1
scholarship, a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship and supplemental 2
award, or a supplemental award only, for a cumulative total of eight (8) 3
academic terms if the student enrolls as at least a part -time student in a four 4
(4) year program. 5
(4) (a) The maximum award amount shall be determined by the authority and shall 6
be adjusted as provided in this subsection. The award amount ultimately 7
determined to be available to an eligible postsecondary student for an award 8
period shall be delivered by the au thority to the participating institution for 9
disbursement to the eligible postsecondary student. 10
(b) The authority shall, by promulgation of administrative regulations, provide for 11
the proportionate reduction of the maximum award amount for an eligible 12
postsecondary student for any academic term in which the student is enrolled 13
on a part -time basis. Each academic term for which any scholarship or 14
supplemental award funds are accepted by an eligible postsecondary student 15
shall count as a full academic term, even if the award amount was reduced to 16
reflect the part-time status of the eligible postsecondary student, except if the 17
eligible postsecondary student interrupts enrollment during the award period 18
for any reason specified in subsection (5) of this sectio n, and the participating 19
institution does not certify a cumulative grade point average for that student at 20
the end of that award period. 21
(c) 1. An eligible postsecondary student who is enrolled full -time in an 22
undergraduate program of study, in the pharmac y program at the 23
University of Kentucky, or in a program of study designated as an 24
equivalent undergraduate program of study by the authority in an 25
administrative regulation, shall receive the maximum award amount for 26
the first award period that the studen t is enrolled in and attending the 27
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program of study. 1
2. To retain the maximum award for the second award period, an eligible 2
postsecondary student shall have at least a 2.5 grade point average at the 3
end of the first award period. If the eligible postsecon dary student 4
interrupts enrollment during the award period for any reason specified in 5
subsection (5) of this section, and the participating institution does not 6
certify a cumulative grade point average for that student at the end of 7
that award period, the eligible postsecondary student shall, subject to 8
paragraph (b) of this subsection, retain the maximum award for the 9
award period in which he or she resumes enrollment. 10
3. To retain the maximum award amount for subsequent award periods, an 11
eligible postsecondary student shall have: 12
a. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater at the end of 13
the prior award period. If the eligible postsecondary student 14
interrupts enrollment during the award period for any reason 15
specified in subsection (5) of this se ction, and the participating 16
institution does not certify a cumulative grade point average for 17
that student at the end of that award period, the eligible 18
postsecondary student shall, subject to paragraph (b) of this 19
subsection, retain the same award for the award period in which he 20
or she resumes enrollment as he or she received in the award 21
period in which enrollment was interrupted; or 22
b. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater but less than 23
3.0 at the end of the prior award period and be on tr ack to 24
graduate. If the eligible postsecondary student interrupts 25
enrollment during the award period for any reason specified in 26
subsection (5) of this section, and the participating institution does 27
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not certify a cumulative grade point average for that st udent at the 1
end of that award period, the eligible postsecondary student shall, 2
subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, retain the same award 3
for the award period in which he or she resumes enrollment as he 4
or she received in the award period in whic h enrollment was 5
interrupted. 6
4. Any eligible full -time postsecondary student who maintains a 7
cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0 but at least 2.5 but is not 8
on track to graduate at the completion of any award period shall receive 9
a reduction in the maximum award amount equal to fifty percent (50%) 10
of the maximum award amount for the next award period. 11
5. Any eligible postsecondary student who maintains a cumulative grade 12
point average of less than 2.5 at the completion of any award period 13
shall lose his or her award for the next award period. 14
6. a. Each participating institution shall certify to the authority at the 15
close of each award period the cumulative grade point average of 16
each Kentucky educational excellence scholarship recipient 17
enrolled as a full -time or part -time student at the participating 18
institution. 19
b. In addition to reporting the grade point average, beginning with 20
the 2010 -2011 academic year, each participating institution shall 21
certify to the authority at the close of each awar d period whether a 22
Kentucky educational excellence scholarship recipient who 23
initially enrolled in college in 2009 -2010 or thereafter is on track 24
to graduate. 25
7. Any student who loses eligibility through failure to maintain the 26
required cumulative grade po int average may regain eligibility in a 27
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subsequent award period upon reestablishing at least a 2.5 cumulative 1
grade point average or its equivalent during a subsequent award period, 2
as certified by the participating institution. 3
(5) The expiration of a stu dent's eight (8) academic terms and five (5) year eligibility 4
shall be extended by the authority upon a determination that the student was unable 5
to enroll for or complete an academic term due to any of the following 6
circumstances: 7
(a) A serious and extend ed illness or injury of the student, certified by an 8
attending physician; 9
(b) The death or serious and extended illness or injury of an immediate family 10
member of the student, certified by an attending physician, which would 11
render the student unable to attend classes; 12
(c) Natural disasters that would render a student unable to attend classes; or 13
(d) 1. Active duty status for the student in the United States Armed Forces or 14
as an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public 15
Health Service, or active service by the student in the Peace Corps Act 16
or the Americorps, for the total number of years during which the 17
student was on active duty status. The number of months served on 18
active duty status shall be rounded up to the next higher year to 19
determine the maximum length of eligibility extension allowed. 20
2. A student whose eligibility expired prior to July 15, 2008, due to the 21
three (3) year time limit on eligibility extensions imposed by this 22
paragraph prior to July 15, 2008, shall have his or h er eligibility 23
reinstated for the number of years beyond the three (3) years during 24
which he or she was on active duty status. The number of months served 25
on active duty status shall be rounded up to the next higher year to 26
determine the maximum length of eligibility extension allowed. 27
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(6) An eligible postsecondary student who is enrolled at a participating institution in a 1
five (5) year undergraduate degree program designated in an administrative 2
regulation promulgated by the authority shall be eligible to receive the Kentucky 3
educational excellence scholarship, the Kentucky educational excellence 4
scholarship and the supplemental award, or the supplemental award only for a 5
maximum of ten (10) academic terms. The expiration of an eligible postsecondary 6
student's five (5) year eligibility shall be extended to six (6) years for eligible 7
postsecondary students meeting the requirements of this subsection. 8
(7) Each participating institution shall notify its students of their terms of eligibility. 9
(8) Each eligible high school student who attains a 28 or above on the ACT and a 4.0 10
grade point average for all four (4) years of high school shall be designated as a 11
"Senator Jeff Green Scholar" in honor of the late Senator Jeff Green of Mayfield, 12
Kentucky, First Distric t, and shall be recognized by the high school in a manner 13
consistent with recognition given by the high school to other high levels of 14
academic achievement. 15
Section 4. KRS 164.7884 is amended to read as follows: 16
(1) As used in this section: 17
(a) "Academic year" means July 1 through June 30 of each year; 18
(b) "Apprentice" has the same meaning as in KRS 343.010; 19
(c) "Approved workforce solutions training program" means a local high -demand 20
work sector training program that is approved by the authority and is offered 21
by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System through 22
consultation with representatives of the local workforce development area and 23
the local Kentucky Community and Technical College System campus where 24
the program will be offered; 25
(d) "Eligible college of art and design" means a college that: 26
1. Qualifies as a tax exempt organization pursuant to Se ction 501(c)(3) of 27
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the Internal Revenue Code: 1
2. Is conditionally or unconditionally licensed by the Council on 2
Postsecondary Education; 3
3. Is a candidate for accreditation by a regional accrediting association 4
recognized by the United States Department of Education; 5
4. Has its main campus physically located in Kentucky; 6
5. Limits its degree program offerings to the area of fine arts; and 7
6. Does not qualify as a participating institution as defined in KRS 8
164.7874; 9
(e) "Eligible student" means an eligible high school student who has graduated 10
from high school , an eligible noncertified school graduate, or a student 11
eligible under KRS 164.7879(3)(d)[(e)]; 12
(f) "Proprietary school" means a school that: 13
1. Is licensed by the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education; 14
2. Has operated for at least five (5) years; 15
3. Has its headquarters or main campus physically located in Kentucky; 16
and 17
4. Does not qualify as a participating institution as defined in[under] KRS 18
164.7874[(20)]; 19
(g) "Qualified proprietary school p rogram" means a program offered by a 20
proprietary school that is in the field of agriculture as defined in KRS 246.010 21
or is in one (1) of Kentucky's top five (5) high -demand work sectors as 22
determined by the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board; 23
(h) "Qualified workforce training program" means a program that is in one (1) of 24
Kentucky's top five (5) high -demand work sectors as determined by the 25
Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board; 26
(i) "Registered apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship program that: 27
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1. Is established in accordance with the requirements of KRS Chapter 343; 1
2. Requires a minimum of two thousand (2,000) hours of on -the-job work 2
experience; 3
3. Requires a minimum of one hundred forty -four (144) hours of related 4
instruction for each year of the apprenticeship; and 5
4. Is approved by the Education and Labor Cabinet; 6
(j) "Related instruction" has the same meaning as in KRS 343.010; and 7
(k) "Sponsor" has the same meaning as in KRS 343.010. 8
(2) Notwithstanding KRS 164.7881, an eligible student who earned a KEES award 9
shall be eligible for a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship if the student 10
meets the requirements of this section and is: 11
(a) An apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program; 12
(b) Enrolled in a qualified workforce training program that has a current 13
articulation agreement for postsecondary credit hours with a participating 14
institution; 15
(c) Enrolled in a qualified proprietary school program; 16
(d) Enrolled in an approved workforce solutions training program; or 17
(e) Enrolled in an eligible college of art and design. 18
(3) (a) [Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, ] An eligible student enrolled 19
in a registered apprenticeship program ,[ or, for the academic year beginning 20
July 1, 2020, an eligible student enrolled in] a qualified workforce training 21
program,[ or, for the academic year beginning July 1, 2023, an eligible student 22
enrolled in] a qualified proprietary school program, an approve d workforce 23
solutions training program, or an eligible college of art and design, may 24
receive reimbursement of tuition, books, required tools, and other approved 25
expenses required for participation in the program, upon certification by the 26
sponsor, school, or college and approval by the authority. 27
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(b) The reimbursement amount an eligible student may receive in an academic 1
year shall not exceed the student's KEES award maximum. 2
(c) The total reimbursement amount an eligible student may receive under this 3
section shall not exceed the student's KEES award maximum multiplied by 4
four (4). 5
(4) Eligibility for a KEES scholarship under this section shall terminate upon the earlier 6
of: 7
(a) The expiration of five (5) years following the eligible student's graduation 8
from high school or receiving a High School Equivalency Diploma, except as 9
provided in KRS 164.7881(5); or 10
(b) The eligible student's successful completion of the registered apprenticeship 11
program, qualified workforce training program, qualified proprietary school 12
program, or approved workforce solutions training program. 13
(5) The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS 14
Chapter 13A establishing the procedures for making awards under this section in 15
consultation with the [ K entucky] Education and Labor Cabinet and the Cabinet 16
for[Kentucky] Economic Development[ Cabinet]. 17