AN ACT relating to classroom libraries and making an appropriation therefor.

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AN ACT relating to classroom libraries and making an appropriation therefor. 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, "eligible recipient" means a certified teacher, certified 5
media specialist, reading intervention teacher, or other specialize d literacy 6
instructional support personnel: 7
(a) Who is employed in a local public school district or a public charter school; 8
and 9
(b) Whose job duties include teaching reading skills to students in kindergarten 10
through grade five (5). 11
(2) The Classroom Library Grant Program is hereby established to provide science of 12
reading curriculum -aligned books and materials in elementary school 13
classrooms. The Classroom Library Grant Program shall operate under the 14
oversight of the Kentucky Department of Education pursuant to this section. 15
(3) The Kentucky Department of Education shall select a provider to administer the 16
Classroom Library Grant Program under the department's oversight. In 17
evaluating program administrator applicants, the department shal l require an 18
applicant to demonstrate experience operating a charitable, project -based 19
platform that: 20
(a) Enables public school teachers to request classroom materials and 21
instructional resources; 22
(b) Reviews requests for compliance with established grant recipient eligibility 23
criteria; 24
(c) Provides item-level reporting of supplies and materials provided; 25
(d) Provides necessary audit documentation; and 26
(e) Delivers approved materials directly to schools or classrooms. 27
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(4) The selected administrator shall: 1
(a) Notify eligible recipients of funding availability for Classroom Library 2
Grant Program awards and the process to submit request applications; 3
(b) Review award applications for compliance with established eligibility 4
criteria; 5
(c) Make awards available t o applicants who are eligible recipients teaching 6
reading skills to students in the following descending order of priorities, 7
with access to funds for each proceeding priority group subject to total 8
funding availability: 9
1. Kindergarten through grade three (3) in a school with more than forty 10
percent (40%) of students eligible for the federal free and reduced -11
price lunch program; 12
2. Kindergarten through grade three (3) not included in subparagraph 1. 13
of this paragraph; 14
3. Grade four (4) through grade five ( 5) in a school with more than forty 15
percent (40%) of students eligible for the federal free and reduced -16
price lunch program; and 17
4. Grade four (4) through grade five (5) not included in subparagraph 3. 18
of this paragraph; 19
(d) As funds are available for elig ible recipients in each priority group, provide 20
eligible recipients with an award of books and other literacy materials: 21
1. In an equivalent amount up to five hundred dollars ($500) per award 22
cycle; 23
2. That are aligned with the science of reading curriculu m appropriate 24
for the student population served by the eligible recipient; and 25
3. Consistent with the request of the eligible recipient in the application. 26
(e) Explore and pursue opportunities to supplement provided funds with gifts 27
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or donations from individuals, private organizations, or foundations; 1
(f) Permit eligible recipients to request support in excess of the limit in 2
paragraph (d) of this subsection, provided that the administrator may fulfill 3
the request only by utilizing nonpublic funds; and 4
(g) Submit a report to the Kentucky Department of Education by January 15, 5
2028, and each January 15 thereafter until no funds remain, including the 6
number of eligible recipients awarded grants, the role of each eligible 7
recipient, the student population serve d by each eligible recipient, an item -8
level reporting of supplies and materials provided, and a summary of the 9
geographic distribution of eligible recipients awarded grants. 10
Section 2. There is hereby appropriated Genera l Fund moneys in the amount of 11
$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 -2028 to the Learning and Results Services budget unit 12
under the Kentucky Department of Education for the purpose of implementation of the 13
Classroom Library Grant Program established in Section 1 of this Act. Notwithstanding 14
KRS 45.229, these funds shall not lapse and shall carry forward. 15