AN ACT relating to Kentucky educational excellence scholarships and declaring an emergency.

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AN ACT relating to Kentucky educational excellence scholarships and declaring an 1
emergency. 2
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3
Section 1. KRS 164.7879 is amended to read as follows: 4
(1) Kentucky educational excellence scholarship awards shall be based upon an 5
established base scholarship amount and an eligible high school student's grade 6
point average. The base scholarship amount for students attaining a grade point 7
average of at least 2. 5 for the 2026-2027[1998-1999] academic year shall be as 8
follows: 9
GPA Amount GPA Amount 10
[ 2.50 $125.00 3.30 $325.00 11
2.60 $150.00 3.40 $350.00 12
2.70 $175.00 3.50 $375.00 13
2.75 $187.00 3.60 $400.00 14
2.80 $200.00 3.70 $425.00 15
2.90 $225.00 3.75 $437.00 16
3.00 $250.00 3.80 $450.00 17
3.10 $275.00 3.90 $475.00 18
3.20 $300.00 4.00 $500.00 19
3.25 $312.00] 20
2.50 $234 3.30 $608 21
2.60 $280 3.40 $654 22
2.70 $327 3.50 $701 23
2.75 $350 3.60 $748 24
2.80 $374 3.70 $795 25
2.90 $421 3.75 $817 26
3.00 $467 3.80 $841 27
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3.10 $514 3.90 $888 1
3.20 $561 4.00 $935 2
3.25 $583 3
The authority shall review the base amount of the Kentucky educational excellence 4
scholarship each academic year and may promulgate an administrative regulation to 5
make adjustments after considering the availability of funds. 6
(2) (a) The authority shall commit to provide to each eligib le high school student the 7
base amount of the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship for each 8
academic year of high school study in the Kentucky educational excellence 9
scholarship curriculum that the high school student has attained at least a 2.5 10
grade point average. The award shall be based upon the eligible high school 11
student's grade point average at the close of each academic year. An award 12
attributable to a past academic year shall not be increased after the award has 13
been earned by an eligible h igh school student, regardless of any subsequent 14
increases made to the base amount of the Kentucky educational excellence 15
scholarship through the promulgation of an administrative regulation by the 16
authority. 17
(b) Notwithstanding the definitions of "eligibl e high school student" and "high 18
school" in KRS 164.7874, any high school student who maintains Kentucky 19
residency and completes the academic courses that are required for a 20
Kentucky educational excellence scholarship while participating in an 21
approved educational high school foreign exchange program or participating 22
in the United States Congressional Page School may apply his or her grade 23
point average for that academic year toward the base as described in 24
paragraph (a) of this subsection. The grade point average shall be reported by 25
the student's Kentucky home high school, based on an official transcript from 26
the school that the student attended during the out -of-state educational 27
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experience. The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations that 1
describe the approval process for the educational exchange programs that 2
qualify under this paragraph. The provisions in this paragraph shall likewise 3
apply to any Kentucky high school student who participated in an approved 4
educational exchange program or in a Congressional Page School since the 5
1998-99 school year and maintained his or her Kentucky residency 6
throughout. 7
(c) 1. Notwithstanding the definitions of "eligible high school student" and 8
"high school" in KRS 164.7874 and the requirement that a stud ent 9
graduate from a Kentucky high school, a high school student who 10
completes the KEES curriculum while attending an accredited out -of-11
state high school or Department of Defense school may apply the grade 12
point average for any applicable academic year towa rd the base as 13
described in paragraph (a) of this subsection and shall also qualify for a 14
supplemental award under subsection (3) of this section when: 15
a. His or her custodial parent or guardian is in active service of the 16
Armed Forces of the United States; 17
b. The student attended an accredited out -of-state high school or a 18
Department of Defense school as a result of the custodial parent's 19
or guardian's military transfer outside of Kentucky; and 20
c. The student earned a KEES base amount at a Kentucky high 21
school prior to the custodial parent's or guardian's military transfer 22
outside of Kentucky. 23
2. The student or parent shall arrange for the out -of-state school to report 24
the student's grade point average each academic year and the student's 25
highest ACT score to the authority as required under KRS 164.7885. 26
The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations implementing 27
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the requirements in this paragraph, including: 1
a. The documentation that the parent shall submit to the authority 2
establishing the student's eligibility for the scholarship; and 3
b. The assurances that an out -of-state institution shall submit to the 4
authority for submission of the student grade point average. 5
3. The provisions in this paragraph shall apply t o the 2001 -2002 school 6
year and thereafter. 7
(d) [Beginning with the 2013 -2014 academic year, ] A student who meets the 8
Kentucky core academic standards for high school graduation established in 9
administrative regulation and graduates after completing three (3) years of 10
high school shall receive a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship 11
award equivalent to completing high school in four (4) years. The award shall 12
be determined by dividing the total actual KEES scholarship earned under 13
subsection (1) of this section by three (3) and multiplying that number by four 14
(4). The resulting number shall be the annual award the student is eligible for 15
under subsection (1) of this section. 16
(3) (a) [The authority shall commit to provide to each eligible high school st udent 17
graduating from high school before June 30, 1999, and achieving a score of at 18
least 15 on the American College Test, a supplemental award for the award 19
period beginning in the fall of 1999, based on the eligible high school 20
student's highest ACT scor e attained by the date of graduation from high 21
school. The amount of the supplemental award shall be determined as follows: 22
ACT Annual ACT Annual 23
Score Bonus Score Bonus 24
15 $21 22 $171 25
16 $43 23 $193 26
17 $64 24 $214 27
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18 $86 25 $236 1
19 $107 26 $257 2
20 $129 27 $279 3
21 $150 28 or above $300 4
Subsequent supplemental awards for eligible high school students graduating 5
before June 30, 1999, shall be determined in accordance with the provisions 6
of paragraph (b) of this subsection. 7
(b) ]The authority shall commit to provide to each eligible high school student 8
upon achievement after June 30, 2026[1999], of an ACT score of at least 15 9
on the American College Test a supplemental award based on the eligible 10
high school student's highes t ACT score attained by the date of graduation 11
from high school. The amount of the supplemental award shall be determined 12
as follows: 13
ACT ACT 14
Score Amount Score Amount 15
[ 15 $36 22 $286 16
16 $71 23 $321 17
17 $107 24 $357 18
18 $143 25 $393 19
19 $179 26 $428 20
20 $214 27 $464 21
21 $250 28 and above $500] 22
15 $66 22 $523 23
16 $130 23 $588 24
17 $196 24 $653 25
18 $262 25 $719 26
19 $328 26 $783 27
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20 $392 27 $849 1
21 $458 28 and above $915 2
The authority shall review the base amount of the supplemental award [ 3
beginning with the 2001 -2002 academic year and] each academic year [ 4
thereafter] and may promulgate an administrative regulation to make 5
adjustments after considering the availability of funds. 6
(b)[(c)] 1. Beginning with the 2026-2027[2008-2009] academic year, the 7
authority shall commit to provide a supplemental award for achievement 8
on examinations for Advanced Placement ,[ or] International 9
Baccalaureate, and Cambridge Advanced Internatio nal, as defined in 10
KRS 164.002 , to an elig ible high school student whose family was 11
eligible for free or reduced -price lunch for any year during high school 12
enrollment. 13
2.[1.] The supplemental award amounts for AP examination scores are as 14
follows: 15
a. Two hundred seventy-seven dollars ($277)[($200)] for each score 16
of three (3); 17
b. Three[Two] hundred forty-seven[fifty] dollars ($347)[($250)] for 18
each score of four (4); and 19
c. Four[Three] hundred sixteen dollars ($416)[($300)] for each score 20
of five (5). 21
3.[2.] The supplemental award amounts for IB e xamination scores are as 22
follows: 23
a. Two hundred seventy-seven dollars ($277)[($200)] for each score 24
of five (5); 25
b. Three[Two] hundred forty-seven[fifty] dollars ($347)[($250)] for 26
each score of six (6); and 27
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c. Four[Three] hundred sixteen dollars ($416)[($300)] for each score 1
of seven (7). 2
4. The supplemental award amounts for Cambridge Advanced 3
International examination scores are as follows: 4
a. Two hundred seventy-seven dollars ($277) for each score of "e"; 5
b. Three hundred forty -seven dollars ($347) for each score of "c" 6
or "d"; and 7
c. Four hundred sixteen dollars ($416) for each score of "a*," 8
"a," or "b". 9
(c)[(d) Beginning with the 2013 -2014 academic year, the authority shall 10
commit to provide a supplemental award for achievement on examinations for 11
Cambridge Advanced International as defined in KRS 164.002 to an eligible 12
high school student whose family was eligible for free or reduced -priced 13
lunch for any year during high school enrollment. The supplemental award for 14
Cambridge Advanced International examination scores are as follows: 15
1. Two hundred dollars ($200) for each score of "e"; 16
2. Two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each score of "c" or "d"; and 17
3. Three hundred dollars ($300) for each score of "a*", "a", or "b". 18
(e)] The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations establishing the 19
eligibility criteria and procedures for making a supplemental award to 20
Kentucky residents who are citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the 21
United States and who graduate f rom a nonpublic secondary school not 22
certified by the Kentucky Board of Education and Kentucky residents who are 23
citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States and who obtain 24
a High School Equivalency Diploma within five (5) years of thei r high school 25
graduating class, and students under subsection (2)(c) of this section who do 26
not attend an accredited high school. 27
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Section 2. KRS 164.7882 is amended to read as follows: 1
(1) Notwithstanding any other statute to the contrary, a student shall be eligible for a 2
Kentucky educational excellence scholarship who: 3
(a) 1. Received an alternative high school diploma described in KRS 4
158.140(2)(b) after June 30, 2012; or 5
2. Attended a Ke ntucky public high school after June 30, 2008, and is a 6
student with an intellectual disability as defined in 34 C.F.R. sec. 7
668.231; and 8
(b) Enrolls in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program at a 9
participating institution located in Kentucky. 10
(2) A student enrolled in credit -bearing or non -credit-bearing courses as part of a 11
comprehensive transition and postsecondary program [ prior to the 2016 -2017 12
academic year shall receive: 13
(a) Two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for enrollment in at least si x (6) hours in an 14
academic term; and 15
(b) One hundred twenty -five dollars ($125) for enrollment in less than six (6) 16
hours in an academic term. 17
(3) A student enrolled in credit -bearing or non -credit-bearing courses as part of a 18
comprehensive transition and postsecondary program] beginning with the 2026-19
2027[2016-2017] academic year shall receive: 20
(a) Six hundred thirty -four[Five hundred] dollars ($634)[($500)] for enrollment 21
in at least six (6) hours in an academic term; and 22
(b) Three hundred seventeen [Two h undred fifty] dollars ($317)[($250)] for 23
enrollment in less than six (6) hours in an academic term. 24
(3)[(4)] A student shall be eligible for a scholarship under this section for a maximum 25
of eight (8) academic terms. 26
(4)[(5)] The authority shall promulgate administrative regulations establishing the 27
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procedures for making awards under this section. 1
Section 3. KRS 164.7874 is amended to read as follows: 2
As used in KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885: 3
(1) "Academic term" means a semest er or other time period specified in an 4
administrative regulation promulgated by the authority; 5
(2) "Academic year" means a period consisting of at least the minimum school term, as 6
defined in KRS 158.070; 7
(3) "ACT score" means the composite score achieved on the American College Test at 8
a national test site on a national test date or the college admissions examination 9
administered statewide under KRS 158.6453(5)(b)5. if the exam is the ACT, or an 10
equivalent score, as determined by the authority, on the SAT administered by the 11
College Board, Inc.; 12
(4) "Authority" means the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; 13
(5) "Award period" means the fall and spring consecutive academic terms within one 14
(1) academic year; 15
(6) "Council" means the Council on Pos tsecondary Education created under KRS 16
164.011; 17
(7) "Eligible high school student" means any person who: 18
(a) Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and Kentucky 19
resident; 20
(b) Was enrolled after July 1, 1998: 21
1. In a Kentucky high school for at least one hundred forty (140) days of 22
the minimum school term unless exempted by the authority's executive 23
director upon documentation of extreme hardship, while meeting the 24
KEES curriculum requirements, and was enrolled in a Kentucky high 25
school at the end of the academic year; 26
2. In a Kentucky high school for the fall academic term of the senior year 27
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and who: 1
a. Was enrolled during the entire academic term; 2
b. Completed the high school's graduation requirements during the 3
fall academic term; and 4
c. Was not enrolled in a secondary school during any other academic 5
term of that academic year; or 6
3. In the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the 7
Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, or in h igh 8
school at a model and practice school under KRS 164.380 while meeting 9
the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship curriculum 10
requirements; 11
(c) Has a grade point average of 2.5 or above at the end of any academic year 12
beginning after July 1, 1998, o r at the end of the fall academic term for a 13
student eligible under paragraph (b)[ ]2. of this subsection; and 14
(d) Is not a convicted felon; 15
(8) "Eligible postsecondary student" means a citizen, national, or permanent resident of 16
the United States and Kent ucky resident, as determined by the participating 17
institution in accordance with criteria established by the council for the purposes of 18
admission and tuition assessment, who: 19
(a) Earned a KEES award; 20
(b) Has the required postsecondary GPA and credit hours required under KRS 21
164.7881; 22
(c) Has remaining semesters of eligibility under KRS 164.7881; 23
(d) Is enrolled in a participating institution as a part-time or full-time student; and 24
(e) Is not a convicted felon; 25
(9) "Full-time student" means a student enrol led in a postsecondary program of study 26
that meets the full -time student requirements of the participating institution in 27
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which the student is enrolled; 1
(10) "Grade point average" or "GPA" means the grade point average earned by an 2
eligible student and reported by the high school or participating institution in which 3
the student was enrolled based on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent if the high school 4
or participating institution that the student attends does not use the 4.0 grade scale; 5
(11) "High school" means any Kentucky public high school, the Gatton Academy of 6
Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the Craft Academy for Excellence in 7
Science and Mathematics, a high school of a model and practice school under KRS 8
164.380, and any private, parochial, or ch urch school located in Kentucky that has 9
been certified by the Kentucky Board of Education as voluntarily complying with 10
curriculum, certification, and textbook standards established by the Kentucky Board 11
of Education under KRS 156.160; 12
(12) "KEES" or "Ken tucky educational excellence scholarship" means a scholarship 13
provided under KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885; 14
(13) "KEES award" means: 15
(a) For an eligible high school student, the sum of the KEES base amount for 16
each academic year of high school plus any KEES sup plemental amount, as 17
adjusted pursuant to KRS 164.7881; and 18
(b) For a student eligible under KRS 164.7879(3) [(e)], the KEES supplemental 19
amount as adjusted pursuant to KRS 164.7881; 20
(14) "KEES award maximum" means the sum of the KEES base amount earned in each 21
academic year of high school plus any KEES supplemental amount earned; 22
(15) "KEES base amount" or "base amount" means the amount earned by an eligible 23
high school student based on the student's GPA pursuant to KRS 164.7879; 24
(16) "KEES curriculum" mean s five (5) courses of study, except for students who meet 25
the criteria of subsection (7)(b)2. of this section, in an academic year as determined 26
in accordance with an administrative regulation promulgated by the authority; 27
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(17) "KEES supplemental amount" m eans the amount earned by an eligible student 1
based on the student's ACT score pursuant to KRS 164.7879; 2
(18) "KEES trust fund" means the Wallace G. Wilkinson Kentucky educational 3
excellence scholarship trust fund; 4
(19) "On track to graduate" means the number of cumulative credit hours earned as 5
compared to the number of hours determined by the postsecondary education 6
institution as necessary to complete a bachelor's degree by the end of eight (8) 7
academic terms or ten (1 0) academic terms if a student is enrolled in an 8
undergraduate program that requires five (5) years of study; 9
(20) "Participating institution" means an "institution" as defined in KRS 164.001 that is 10
eligible to participate in the federal Pell Grant program, executes a contract with the 11
authority on terms the authority deems necessary or appropriate for the 12
administration of its programs, and: 13
(a) 1. Is publicly operated; 14
2. Is licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has operated for at 15
least ten (10) years, offers an associate or baccalaureate degree program 16
of study not comprised solely of sectarian instruction, and admits as 17
regular students only high school graduates, recipients of a High School 18
Equivalency Diploma, or students transferring from ano ther accredited 19
degree granting institution; or 20
3. Is designated by the authority as an approved out -of-state institution that 21
offers a degree program in a field of study that is not offered at any 22
institution in the Commonwealth; and 23
(b) Continues to comm it financial resources to student financial assistance 24
programs; and 25
(21) "Part-time student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary program of study 26
who does not meet the full-time student requirements of the participating institution 27
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in which the student is enrolled and who is enrolled for at least six (6) credit hours, 1
or the equivalent for an institution that does not use credit hours. 2
Section 4. KRS 164.7881 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) Eligible high schoo l 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) [(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 scholarsh ip 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 t he 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 successfully completes the requirem ents 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 de termined 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 authority to the participating institu tion 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 section, 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 pharmacy program at the 23
University of Kentu cky, 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 student 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 postsecondary 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 shal l, 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 section, 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 re sumes 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 track to 24
graduate. If the eligible pos tsecondary 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 student at the 1
end of that award perio d, 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 which 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 participati ng 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 award period whether a 22
Kentucky educational excellence schol arship 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 point 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 student's eight (8) academic terms and five (5) year eligib ility 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 extended 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 her 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 AC T 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 District, and shall be recognized by the high school in a manne r 13
consistent with recognition given by the high school to other high levels of 14
academic achievement. 15
Section 5. 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 Section 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 accredit ation 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 partic ipating 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 or a student eligible under KRS 164.7879(3)[(e)]; 11
(f) "Proprietary school" means a school that: 12
1. Is licensed by the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education; 13
2. Has operated for at least five (5) years; 14
3. Has its headquarters or main campus physically located in Kentucky; 15
and 16
4. Does not qualify as a participating institution under KRS 164.7874(20); 17
(g) "Qualified proprietary school program" means a program offered by a 18
proprietary school that is in the field of agriculture as defined in KRS 246.010 19
or is in one (1) of Kentucky's top five (5) high -demand work sectors as 20
determined by the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board; 21
(h) "Qualified workforce training program" means a program that is in one (1) of 22
Kentucky's top five (5) high -demand work sectors as determined by the 23
Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board; 24
(i) "Registered apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship program that: 25
1. Is established in accordance with the requirements of KRS Chapter 343; 26
2. Requires a minimum of two thousand (2,000) hours of on -the-job work 27
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experience; 1
3. Requires a minimum of one hundred forty -four (144) hours of related 2
instruction for each year of the apprenticeship; and 3
4. Is approved by the Education and Labor Cabinet; 4
(j) "Related instruction" has the same meaning as in KRS 343.010; and 5
(k) "Sponsor" has the same meaning as in KRS 343.010. 6
(2) Notwithstanding KRS 164.7881, an eligible student who earned a KEES award 7
shall be el igible for a Kentucky educational excellence scholarship if the student 8
meets the requirements of this section and is: 9
(a) An apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program; 10
(b) Enrolled in a qualified workforce training program that has a current 11
articulation agreement for postsecondary credit hours with a participating 12
institution; 13
(c) Enrolled in a qualified proprietary school program; 14
(d) Enrolled in an approved workforce solutions training program; or 15
(e) Enrolled in an eligible college of art and design. 16
(3) (a) Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, an eligible student enrolled in a 17
registered apprenticeship program or, for the academic year beginning July 1, 18
2020, an eligible student enrolled in a qualified workforce training program 19
or, for the academic year beginning July 1, 2023, an eligible student enrolled 20
in a qualified proprietary school program, an approved workforce solutions 21
training program, or an eligible college of art and design, may receive 22
reimbursement of tuition, books, requi red tools, and other approved expenses 23
required for participation in the program, upon certification by the sponsor, 24
school, or college and approval by the authority. 25
(b) The reimbursement amount an eligible student may receive in an academic 26
year shall not exceed the student's KEES award maximum. 27
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(c) The total reimbursement amount an eligible student may receive under this 1
section shall not exceed the student's KEES award maximum multiplied by 2
four (4). 3
(4) Eligibility for a KEES scholarship under this section shall terminate upon the earlier 4
of: 5
(a) The expiration of five (5) years following the eligible student's graduation 6
from high school or receiving a High School Equivalency Diploma, except as 7
provided in KRS 164.7881(5); or 8
(b) The eligible student's successful completion of the registered apprenticeship 9
program, qualified workforce training program, qualified proprietary school 10
program, or approved workforce solutions training program. 11
(5) The authority shall promulgate administ rative regulations establishing the 12
procedures for making awards under this section in consultation with the 13
[Kentucky] Education and Labor Cabinet and the Cabinet for [Kentucky] 14
Economic Development[ Cabinet]. 15
Section 6. KRS 164.7885 is amended to read as follows: 16
(1) Not later than [ August 1, 1999, and each] June 30 of each year [thereafter], each 17
Kentucky high school shall submit to the authority, a compiled list of all high 18
school students during the academic year. A high school shall report the grade point 19
average of an eligible high school student pursuant to KRS 164.7874 by January 15 20
following the end of the fall academic term in which the student completed the high 21
school graduation requirements. The list shall identify the high school and shall 22
contain each high school student's name, Social Security number, address, grade 23
point averag e for the academic year, expected or actual graduation date, highest 24
ACT score, family eligibility status for free or reduced -price lunch, and each AP, 25
Cambridge Advanced International, or IB examination score. The Gatton Academy 26
of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the Craft Academy for Excellence in 27
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Science and Mathematics, and the high school of a model and practice school under 1
KRS 164.380 shall report the data on its students to the authority. The list need not 2
contain the ACT, AP, Cambridge Advance d International, or IB if the authority 3
receives the scores directly from the testing services. The authority shall notify each 4
eligible high school student of his or her Kentucky educational excellence 5
scholarship award earned each academic year. The auth ority shall determine the 6
final Kentucky educational excellence scholarship and supplemental award based 7
upon the actual final grade point average, highest ACT score, and qualifying AP, 8
Cambridge Advanced International, or IB scores and shall notify each e ligible 9
twelfth-grade high school student of the final determination. The authority shall 10
make available a list of eligible high school and postsecondary students to 11
participating institutions. 12
(2) The authority shall provide data access only to the Kentuc ky Longitudinal Data 13
System and to those participating institutions that have either received an admission 14
application from an eligible high school or postsecondary student or have been 15
listed by the eligible high school or postsecondary student on the Fre e Application 16
For Federal Student Aid. 17
(3) For each eligible postsecondary student enrolling in a participating institution [ after 18
July 1, 1999], the participating institution shall verify to the authority: 19
(a) The student's initial eligibility for a Kentu cky educational excellence 20
scholarship, Kentucky educational excellence scholarship and supplemental 21
award, or supplemental award only pursuant to KRS 164.7879(3)[(d)] through 22
the comprehensive list compiled by the authority or an alternative source 23
satisfactory to the authority; 24
(b) The student's highest ACT score attained by the date of graduation from high 25
school, provided that the participating institution need not report the ACT 26
score if the authority receives the ACT score directly from the testing 27
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services; 1
(c) The eligible postsecondary student's full-time or part-time enrollment status at 2
the beginning of each academic term; and 3
(d) The eligible postsecondary student's cumulative grade point average after the 4
completion of each award period. 5
(4) Each participating institution shall submit to the authority a report, in a form 6
satisfactory to the authority, of all eligible postsecondary students enrolled for that 7
academic term. Kentucky educational excellence scholarships and supplemental 8
awards shall be disbursed by the authority to each eligible postsecondary student 9
attending a participating institution during the academic term within thirty (30) days 10
after receiving a satisfactory report. 11
(5) The Kentucky educational excellence scholarship and the s upplemental award shall 12
not be reduced, except as provided in KRS 164.7881(4). 13
(6) Kentucky educational excellence scholarships and supplemental awards shall not be 14
awarded or disbursed to any eligible postsecondary students who are: 15
(a) In default on any loan under Title IV of the federal act; or 16
(b) Liable for any amounts that exceed annual or aggregate limits on any loan 17
under Title IV of the federal act; or 18
(c) Liable for overpayment of any grant or loan under Title IV of the federal act; 19
or 20
(d) In default on any obligation to the authority under any programs administered 21
by the authority until financial obligations to the authority are satisfied, except 22
that ineligibility may be waived by the authority for cause. 23
(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of KR S 164.753, the authority may promulgate 24
administrative regulations for the administration of Kentucky educational 25
excellence scholarships and supplemental awards under the provisions of KRS 26
164.7871 to 164.7885 and KRS 164.7889. 27
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Section 7. Whereas providing assistance to Kentucky students for higher 1
education is critical for the continuing knowledge of its citizens an emergency is declared 2
to exist, and this Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 3