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--- version:Acts Chapter 138+++ version:(document, no version)@@ -1,1014 +1,21 @@-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+SENATE-1-CHAPTER 138-( HB 257 )-AN ACT relating to the education assessment and accountability system.-Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:-SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:-(1) As used in this section:-(a) "Locally developed indicators of quality" means measures or indicators created or adopted by a local-school district that:-1. Are aligned with the academic standards established in Section 2 of this Act;-2. Allow all students to demonstrate their ability to apply grade -appropriate, standards -driven-knowledge, content, and skills in real-world applications; and-3. May include additional locally identified indicators re lated to priorities established by the local-community that serve to complement the requirements in subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this-paragraph. These indicators may include student well -being, fiscal responsibility, or school-safety; and-(b) "Vibrant learning" means an educational experience that is:-1. Characterized by student agency and the application of knowledge and skills aligned with the-academic standards established in Section 2 of this Act;-2. Developed in partnership with students' families, loca l communities, and the local workforce;-and-3. Demonstrated through personalized projects, outputs, experiences, or other produced results-reflecting each individual student's academic and career interests.-(2) Each local school district may develop and im plement a system of locally developed indicators of quality in-accordance with administrative regulations promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Education. The locally-developed indicators of quality shall include:-(a) Student participation in vibrant learning experiences; and-(b) Locally developed indicators of performance.-(3) A local school district utilizing a system of locally developed indicators of quality shall:-(a) When an indicator involves student data, include student performance data for all stud ents,-disaggregated by individual subgroups, where permissible; and-(b) Develop a publicly available, online display that clearly communicates each applicable school and-the district's performance on the locally developed indicators of quality, disaggregated by individual-subgroups, where permissible.-(4) The Kentucky Department of Education:-(a) Shall offer technical assistance to local school districts in their development of locally developed-indicators of quality; and-(b) May offer a one (1) time payment to offset costs incurred by local school districts in the development-of locally developed indicators of quality. A financial payment provided under this paragraph shall-not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per district.-(5) The Kentu cky Board of Education may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS-Chapter 13A necessary to administer the provisions of this section.-Section 2. KRS 158.6453 (Effective July 1, 2026) is amended to read as follows:-(1) As used in this section:-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2-(a) "Accelerated learning" means an organized way of helping students meet individual academic goals by-providing direct instruction to eliminate student performance deficiencies or enable students to move-more quickly through course requirements and pursue higher level skill development;-(b) "Advanced coursework" means educational programs or opportunities designed to challenge students-with more rigorous content beyond the standard curriculum, including but not limited to advanced-placement, International Baccalaureate, and honors courses;-(c) "Constructed-response items" or "performance-based items" means individual test items that require the-student to create an answer rather than select a response and may include fill -in-the-blank, short --answer, extended-answer, open-response, and writing-on-demand formats;-(d) "Criterion-referenced test" means a test that is aligned with defined academic content standards and-measures an individual student's level of performance against the standards;-(e) "Formative assessment" means a process used by teachers and students during instruction to adjust-ongoing teaching and learning to improve students' achievement of intended instructional outcomes.-Formative assessments may include the use of commercial asse ssments, curriculum-embedded-assessments, classroom observations, teacher -designed [classroom tests and ] assessments, and other-processes and assignments to gain information about individual student learning that reflects-developmentally appropriate grade-level performance;-(f) "Interim assessments" means assessments that are given periodically throughout the year to provide-diagnostic information and to show individual student performance against content standards;-(g) "Summative assessment" means an asses sment given at the end of the school year, semester, or other-period of time to evaluate students' performance against academic[content] standards within a unit of-instruction or a course; and-(h) "Writing" means a purposeful act of thinking and expression that uses language to explore ideas and-communicate meaning to others. Writing is a complex, multifaceted act of communication and is-distinct from basic handwriting or penmanship.-(2) (a) Every six (6) years, the Kentucky Department of Education shall im plement a process for reviewing-Kentucky's academic standards and the alignment of corresponding assessments for possible revision or-replacement to ensure alignment with transition readiness standards necessary for global-competitiveness, state career and technical education standards, and KRS 158.196.-(b) The revisions to the academic[content] standards shall:-1. Focus on critical knowledge, skills, and capacities needed for success in the global economy;-2. Result in fewer but more in-depth standards to facilitate mastery learning;-3. Communicate expectations more clearly and concisely to teachers, parents, students, and-citizens;-4. Be based on evidence-based research;-5. Consider international benchmarks; and-6. Ensure that the standards are aligned fro m elementary to high school to postsecondary education-so that students can be successful at each education level.-(c) 1. The department shall establish four (4) standards and assessments review committees, with each-committee composed of a minimum of six (6) Kentucky public school teachers and a minimum-of two (2) representatives from Kentucky institutions of higher education, including at least one-(1) representative from a public institution of higher education. Each committee member shall-teach in t he subject area that his or her committee is assigned to review and have no prior or-current affiliation with a curriculum or assessment resources vendor.-2. One (1) of the four (4) committees shall be assigned to focus on the review of reading[language-arts] and writing academic standards and corresponding assessments in reading, one (1) on the-review of mathematics academic standards and assessments, one (1) on the review of science-academic standards and assessments, and one (1) on the review of social s tudies academic-standards and assessments.-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT FORM-3-(d) 1. The department shall establish twelve (12) advisory panels to advise and assist each of the four-(4) standards and assessments review committees.-2. Three (3) advisory panels shall be assigned to each stand ards and assessments review committee.-One (1) panel shall review the standards and assessments for kindergarten through grade five (5),-one (1) shall review the standards and assessments for grades six (6) through eight (8), and one-(1) shall review the standards and assessments for grades nine (9) through twelve (12).-3. Each advisory panel shall be composed of at least one (1) representative from a Kentucky-institution of higher education and a minimum of six (6) Kentucky public school teachers who-teach in the grade level and subject reviewed by the advisory panel to which they are assigned-and have no prior or current affiliation with a curriculum or assessment resources vendor.-(e) The commissioner of education and the president of the Council on Posts econdary Education shall also-provide consultants for the standards and assessments review committees and the advisory panels who-are business and industry professionals actively engaged in career fields that depend on the various-content areas.-(f) 1. The standards and assessments process review committee is hereby established and shall be-composed of the commissioner of education or designee as a nonvoting member and nine (9)-voting representatives of public schools, of whom at least two (2) shall be pare nts of public-school students, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate in accordance with-KRS 11.160 as follows:-a. One (1) language arts teacher;-b. One (1) math teacher;-c. One (1) science teacher;-d. One (1) social studies teacher;-e. Two (2) school principals;-f. Two (2) school superintendents; and-g. One (1) school board member.-2. On making appointments to the committee, the Governor shall ensure broad geographical urban-and rural representation and representation of elementary, middle, and high school levels; ensure-equal representation of the two (2) sexes, inasmuch as possible; and ensure that appointments-reflect the minority racial composition of the Commonwealth.-3. The review of the committee shall be limited to the procedural aspe cts of the review process-undertaken prior to its consideration.-4. Notwithstanding KRS 12.028, the committee shall not be subject to reorganization by the-Governor.-(g) 1. The review process implemented under this subsection shall be an open, transparent process that-allows all Kentuckians an opportunity to participate. The department shall ensure the public's-assistance in reviewing and suggesting changes to the standards and alignment adjustments to-corresponding state assessments by establishing a websi te dedicated to collecting comments by-the public and educators. An independent third party, which has no prior or current affiliation-with a curriculum or assessment resources vendor, shall be selected by the department to collect-and transmit the comment s to the department for dissemination to the appropriate advisory panel-for review and consideration.-2. Each advisory panel shall review the standards and assessments for its assigned subject matter-and grade level and the suggestions made by the public a nd educators. After completing its-review, each advisory panel shall make recommendations for changes to the standards and-alignment adjustments for assessments to the appropriate standards and assessments review-committee.-3. Each standards and assessment s review committee shall review the findings and make-recommendations to revise or replace existing standards and to adjust alignment of assessments.-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4-4. The recommendations shall be published on the website established in this subsection for the-purpose of gathering additional feedback from the public. The commissioner shall subsequently-present the recommendations and the public feedback to the Interim Joint Committee on-Education.-5. The commissioner shall subsequently provide a report to the standards an d assessments process-review committee summarizing the process conducted under this subsection and the resulting-recommendations. The report shall include but not be limited to the timeline of the review-process, public feedback, and responses from the Interim Joint Committee on Education.-6. After receiving the commissioner's report, the standards and assessments process review-committee shall either concur that stakeholders have had adequate opportunity to provide input-on standards and the corresponding alignment of state assessments or find the input process-deficient. If the process is found deficient, the recommendations may be returned to the-appropriate standards and assessments review committee for review as described in subparagraph-3. of this para graph. If the process is found sufficient, the recommendations shall be forwarded-without amendment to the Kentucky Board of Education.-(h) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS-Chapter 13A as ma y be needed for the administration of the review process, including staggering the-timing and sequence of the review process by subject area and remuneration of the review committees-and advisory panels described in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this subsection.-(i) 1. The Kentucky Board of Education shall consider for approval the revisions to academic-standards for a content area and the alignment of the corresponding state assessment once-recommendations are received from the standards and assessments proces s review committee.-Existing state academic standards shall remain in place until the board approves new standards.-2. Any revision to, or replacement of, the academic standards and assessments as a result of the-review process conducted under this subsection shall be implemented in Kentucky public schools-no later than the second academic year following the review process. Existing academic-standards shall be used until new standards are implemented.-3. The Department of Education shall disseminate the academic [content ]standards to the schools-and teacher preparation programs.-(j) The Department of Education shall provide or facilitate statewide training sessions for existing teachers-and administrators on how to:-1. Integrate the revised academic[content] standards into classroom instruction;-2. Better integrate performance assessment of students within their instructional practices; and-3. Help all students use higher-order thinking and communication skills.-(k) The Education Professional Standards Board in cooperation with the Kentucky Board of Education and-the Council on Postsecondary Education shall coordinate information and training sessions for faculty-and staff in all of the teacher preparation programs in the use of the revised academic [content-]standards. The Education Professional Standards Board shall ensure that each teacher preparation-program includes use of the academic standards in the pre -service education programs and that all-teacher interns will have experience planning classroom instruction based on the revised standards.-(l) The Council on Postsecondary Education in cooperation with the Kentucky Department of Education-and the postsecondary education institutions in the state shall coordinate inf ormation sessions regarding-the academic [content ]standards for faculty who teach in the various content areas.-(m) The Education Professional Standards Board shall, as a condition of program approval, require teacher-preparation programs to align curricu lum with the expectations set forth in the state's academic [content-]standards.-(3) (a) The Kentucky Board of Education shall be responsible for creating and implementing a balanced-statewide assessment program that measures the students', schools', and d istricts' achievement of the-goals set forth in KRS 158.645 and 158.6451, to ensure compliance with the federal Every Student-Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-95, or its successor, and to ensure school accountability.-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+2026 REGULAR SESSION-5-(b) The board shall revise the an nual statewide assessment program as needed in accordance with revised-academic standards and corresponding assessment alignment adjustments approved by the board under-subsection (2) of this section.-(c) The statewide assessments shall not include any aca demic standards not approved by the board under-subsection (2) of this section.-(d) The board shall seek the advice of the Office of Education Accountability; the School Curriculum,-Assessment, and Accountability Council; the Education Assessment and Accou ntability Review-Subcommittee, and the department's technical advisory committee in the development of the assessment-program. The statewide assessment program shall not include measurement of a student's ability to-become a self -sufficient individual or t o become a responsible member of a family, work group, or-community.-(4) (a) The academic components of the statewide assessment program shall be composed of annual student-summative tests, which may include a combination of multiple competency -based asses sment and-performance measures approved by the Kentucky Board of Education.-(b) The annual student summative tests shall:-1. Measure individual student achievement in [language, ]reading, [English, ]mathematics, science,-and social studies at designated grades;-2. Provide teachers and parents a valid and reliable comprehensive analysis of skills mastered by-individual students;-3. Provide diagnostic information that identifies strengths and academic deficiencies of individual-students in the content areas;-4. Provide information to teachers that can enable them to improve instruction for current and-future students;-5. Provide longitudinal profiles for students; and-6. Ensure school and district accountability for student achievement of the goals set forth i n KRS-158.645 and 158.6451, except the statewide assessment program shall not include measurement-of a student's ability to become a self -sufficient individual or to become a responsible member of-a family, work group, or community.-(5) The state student assessments shall include the following components:-(a) Elementary and middle grades requirements are:-1. A criterion-referenced test each in mathematics and reading in grades three (3) through eight (8)-that is valid and reliable for an individual student and that measures the depth and breadth of-the[Kentucky's] academic [content ]standards; and-2. A criterion -referenced test each in science and social studies that is valid and reliable for an-individual student as necessary to measure the depth and breadt h of the[Kentucky's] academic-[content ] standards to be administered one (1) time within the elementary and middle grades,-respectively;[-3. An on -demand assessment of student writing to be administered one (1) time within the-elementary grades and one (1) time within the middle grades; and-4. An editing and mechanics test relating to writing, using multiple choice and constructed response-items, to be administered one (1) time within the elementary and the middle grades,-respectively;]-(b) High school requirements are:-1. A criterion-referenced test in mathematics, reading, and science that is valid and reliable for an-individual student and that measures the depth and breadth of Kentucky's academic content-standards to be administered one (1) time within the high school grades;-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 6-2. A criterion-referenced test in social studies that is valid and reliable for an individual student as-necessary to measure the depth and breadth of the[Kentucky's] academic [content ]standards to-be administered one (1) time within the high school grades; and-3. [An on -demand assessment of student writing to be administered one (1) time within the high-school grades;-4. An editing and mechanics test relating to writing, using multiple choice and constructed response-items, to be administered one (1) time within the high school grades; and-5. ]A college admissions examination to assess English, reading, mathematics, and science in the-spring of grade eleven (11);-(c) The Kentucky Board of Education shall add any other component ne cessary to comply with the Every-Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114 -95, or its successor, as determined by the United States-Department of Education;-(d) The criterion -referenced components required in this subsection shall be composed of constr ucted-response items and multiple choice items; and-(e) The results of the assessment program developed under this subsection shall be used by schools and-districts to determine appropriate instructional modifications for all students in order for students to-make continuous progress, including that needed by advanced learners.-(6) Each school district shall administer the statewide student assessment during the last fourteen (14) days of-school in the district's instructional calendar. The Kentucky Board o f Education may change the testing-window to allow for innovative assessment systems or other online test administration and shall promulgate-administrative regulations that minimize the number of days of testing and outline the procedures to be used-during the testing process to ensure test security, including procedures for testing makeup days, and to comply-with federal assessment requirements.-(7) A student enrolled in a district -operated or district -contracted alternative program shall participate in t he-appropriate assessments required by this section.-(8) A local school district may select and use commercial interim or formative assessments or develop and use its-own formative assessments to provide data on how well its students are growing toward mas tery of Kentucky-academic standards, so long as the district's local school board develops a policy minimizing the reduction in-instructional time related to the administration of the interim assessments. Nothing in this section precludes-teachers from using ongoing teacher-developed formative processes.-(9) Each school that enrolls primary students shall use diagnostic assessments and prompts that measure readiness-in reading and mathematics for its primary students as determined by the school to be develo pmentally-appropriate. The schools may use commercial products, use products and procedures developed by the district,-or develop their own diagnostic procedures. The results shall be used to inform the teachers and parents or-guardians of each student's skill level.-(10) The state board shall ensure that a technically sound longitudinal comparison of the assessment results for the-same students shall be made available.-(11) The following provisions shall apply to the college admissions examination describe d in subsection-(5)(b)3.[5.] of this section:-(a) The cost of the college admissions examination administered to students in high school shall be paid for-by the Kentucky Department of Education. The costs of additional college admissions examinations-shall be the responsibility of the student;-(b) If funds are available, the Kentucky Department of Education shall provide a college admissions-examination preparation program to all public high school juniors. The department may contract for-necessary services; and-(c) Accommodations provided to a student with a disability taking the college admissions assessment under-this subsection shall consist of:-1. Accommodations provided in a manner allowed by the college admissions assessment provider-when results in test scores are reportable to a postsecondary institution for admissions and-placement purposes, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of this paragraph; or-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+Amend printed copy of HB 257/GA-7-2. Accommodations provided in a manner allowed by a student's individualized education program-as defined in KRS 158.281 for a student whose disability precludes valid assessment of his or her-academic abilities using the accommodations provided under subparagraph 1. of this paragraph-when the student's scores are not reportable to a postsecondary insti tution for admissions and-placement purposes.-(12) Kentucky teachers shall have a significant role in providing feedback about the design of the assessments,-except for the college admissions exam described in subsection (5)(b) 3.[5.] of this section. The a ssessments-shall be designed to:-(a) Measure developmentally appropriate grade -level performance aligned to the academic-standards[grade appropriate core academic content, basic skills, and higher -order thinking skills and-their application];-(b) Provide valid and reliable scores for schools. If scores are reported for students individually, they shall-be valid and reliable; and-(c) Minimize the time spent by teachers and students on assessment[; and-(d) Assess Kentucky academic standards only].-(13) The results from assessment under subsections (3) and (5) of this section shall be reported to the school-districts and schools no later than seventy -five (75) days following the last day the assessment can be-administered. Assessment reports provided to the s chool districts and schools shall include an electronic copy-of an operational subset of test items from each assessment administered to their students and the results for-each of those test items by student and by school.-(14) The Department of Education shall gather information to establish the validity of the assessment and-accountability program. It shall develop a biennial plan for validation studies that shall include but not be-limited to the consistency of student results across multiple measures, t he congruence of school scores with-documented improvements in instructional practice and the school learning environment, and the potential for-all scores to yield fair, consistent, and accurate student performance level and school accountability decision s.-Validation activities shall take place in a timely manner and shall include a review of the accuracy of scores-assigned to students and schools, as well as of the testing materials. The plan shall be submitted to the-Commission by July 1 of the first ye ar of each biennium. A summary of the findings shall be submitted to the-Legislative Research Commission by September 1 of the second year of the biennium.-(15) The Department of Education and the state board shall offer optional assistance to local school districts and-schools in developing and using continuous assessment strategies needed to ensure student progress. The-continuous assessment shall provide diagnostic information to improve instruction to meet the needs of-individual students.-(16) The Administration Code for Kentucky's Assessment Program shall include prohibitions of inappropriate test-preparation activities by school district employees charged with test administration and oversight, including-but not limited to the issue of teachers being required to do test practice in lieu of regular classroom instruction-and test practice outside the normal work day. The code shall include disciplinary sanctions that may be taken-toward a school or individuals.-(17) The Kentucky Board of Education, after the Department of Education has received advice from the Office of-Education Accountability; the School Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Council; and the-department's technical advisory committee, shall promulgate an administrative regulation un der KRS Chapter-13A to establish the components of a reporting structure for assessments administered under this section. The-reporting structure shall include the following components:-(a) A school report card that clearly communicates with parents and th e public about school performance.-The school report card shall be sent to the parents of the students of the districts, and information on-electronic access to a summary of the results for the district shall be published in the newspaper with-the largest circulation in the county. It shall include but not be limited to the following components-reported by race, gender, and disability when appropriate:-1. Student academic achievement, including the results from each of the assessments administered-under this section;-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 8-2. For Advanced Placement, Cambridge Advanced International, and International Baccalaureate,-the courses offered, the number of students enrolled, completing, and taking the examination for-each course, and the percentage of examinees receiving a score of three (3) or better on AP-examinations, a score of "e" or better on Cambridge Advanced International examinations, or a-score of four (4) or better on IB examinations. The data shall be disaggregated by gender, race,-students with disabilities, and economic status;-3. Nonacademic achievement, including the school's attendance, retention, graduation rates, and-student transition to postsecondary;-4. School learning environment, including measures of parental involvement;[ and]-5. Until June 30, 2030, targeted quality measures, which shall include a measure of the change-from the prior school year on the following factors:-a. The percentage of certified teachers within the school and district who have attained:-i. Rank II status or higher as d etermined by the Education Professional Standards-Board; or-ii. Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;-b. For schools and districts containing students in grade eight (8), the percentage of-students earning at least one (1) high school credit upon the completion of the student's-grade eight (8) school year; and-c. For schools and districts containing students in grade twelve (12), the percentage of-graduating students who have:-i. Completed the Free Application for Federa l Student Aid by the student's-graduation date; or-ii. A parent or legal guardian that has submitted an appropriate form to the school-or district to opt out of completion of the Free Application for Federal Student-Aid after completing a district -approved presentation regarding the Free-Application for Federal Student Aid; and-6.[5.] Any other school performance data required by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L.-No. 114-95, or its successor;-(b) An individual student report to parents for eac h student in grades three (3) through eight (8)-summarizing the student's skills in reading, science, social studies, and mathematics. The school's staff-shall develop a plan for accelerated learning for any student with identified deficiencies or strength s;-and-(c) A student's score on the college admissions assessment administered under subsection (5)(b) 3.[5.] of-this section.-(18) (a) Every six (6) years, the Kentucky Department of Education shall implement a comprehensive process-for reviewing and revis ing the academic standards in visual and performing arts and practical living-skills and career studies for all levels and in world[foreign] language for middle and high schools. The-department shall develop review committees for the standards for each of the content areas that include-representation from certified specialist public school teachers and postsecondary teachers in those-subject areas.-(b) The academic standards in practical living skills for elementary, middle, and high school levels shall-include a focus on drug abuse prevention, with an emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the-connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin and synthetic-drugs.-(c) The department shall provide to all schools guidelines for programs that incorporate the adopted-academic standards in visual and performing arts and practical living and career studies. The-department shall provide to middle and high schools guidelines for including a foreign language-program. The guidelines shall address program length and time, courses offered, staffing, resources, and-facilities.-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+Amendment No. SFA 7 Rep. Sen. Stephen West-9-(d) The Kentucky Department of Education, in consultation with certified public school teachers of visual-and performing arts, may develop program standards for the visual and performing arts.-(19) (a) The Kentucky Department of Education shall develop and distribute [provide] to all school districts-guidelines for including an effective writing program across the content areas aligned to the acade mic-standards. The department shall provide professional learning opportunities to support authentic and-disciplinary-specific writing across the curriculum for superintendents, school -based decision-making councils, principals, teachers, and teacher preparation programs[within the curriculum].-(b) Each superintendent of a local school district shall adopt policies that determine the writing program-for the local school district and ensure the writing program policy is published on the district's-website. T he writing program shall include disciplinary -specific writing across the curriculum and-incorporate a variety of language resources, technological tools, and multiple opportunities for-students to develop complex communication skills for a variety of purp oses.-(20) (a) The Kentucky Department of Education, in consultation with the review committees described in-subsection (18) of this section, shall develop a school profile report to be used by all schools to-document how they will address the adopted acad emic standards in their implementation of the-programs as described in subsection (18) of this section, which may include student opportunities and-experiences in extracurricular activities. The department shall include the essential workplace ethics-program on the school profile report.-(b) By October 1 of each year, each school principal shall complete the school profile report, which shall be-signed by the members of the school council, or the principal if no school council exists, and the-superintendent. The report shall be electronically transmitted to the Kentucky Department of Education,-and the original shall be maintained on file at the local board office and made available to the public-upon request. The department shall include a link to each school's profile report on its website.-(c) If a school staff member, student, or a student's parent has concerns regarding deficiencies in a school's-implementation of the programs described in subsection (18) of this section, he or she may submit a-written inquiry to the school council.-(21) (a) No later than December 1, 2025, each local board of education shall adopt a district plan establishing-clear policies on the promotion of advanced coursework or accelerated learning in language arts,-mathematics, social studies, and science by grade level for students in grades four (4) to twelve (12).-(b) The district plan required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall:-1. Be published on a publicly accessible location on the district website;-2. Describe the strategies and approach to advanced coursework or accelerated learning options by-grade level for language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science; and-3. Require that the service delivery options for students identified as gifted and talented in langu age-arts, mathematics, social studies, and science include the following for each grade level and-subject area:-a. i. Accelerated learning; or-ii. Advanced coursework; and-b. At least one (1) of the following service delivery options:-i. Collaborative teaching and consultation services;-ii. Special counseling services;-iii. Differentiated study experiences for individuals and cluster groups in the regular-classroom;-iv. Distance learning;-v. Enrichment services that are not extracurricular during the school day;-vi. Independent study;-vii. Mentorships;-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 10-viii. Resource services delivered in a pull -out classroom or other appropriate-instructional setting;-ix. Seminars;-x. Travel study options; or-xi. Special schools or self-contained classrooms for students in grades four (4) through-twelve (12) only.-(c) The district plan required by paragraph (a) of this subsection may:-1. Automatically enroll a student who scores distinguished in any subject area o n the most recent-statewide assessment for which scores are available in available advanced coursework for that-subject area and any corresponding subject area designated by the local board of education;-2. Include eligibility criteria for qualification fo r available advanced coursework for all other-students;-3. Require written consent from a parent or guardian of a student to withdraw or exclude a student-that is eligible for advanced coursework according to the district plan from that advanced-coursework. If a student requests to withdraw from advanced coursework to pursue another-educational opportunity, a principal may withdraw the student without written consent from a-parent or guardian only after a good -faith attempt to contact the parent or guardia n is-unsuccessful; and-4. Permit a principal to withdraw a student from advanced coursework without written consent-from his or her parent or guardian if the student's participation in advanced coursework would-have an adverse educational impact on a stude nt, including interference with his or her career-pathway, access to career and technical education coursework, or another educational-opportunity.-(22) [(a) ]The Kentucky Board of Education may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS-Chapter 13A to administer the provisions of subsection (21) of this section. [-(b) By December 1, 2025, the Kentucky Department of Education, in collaboration with local school-districts, shall establish school district recommendations for the consistent us e of preliminary-assessment data and other criteria to identify students prepared for advanced coursework. ]-Section 3. KRS 158.6455 is amended to read as follows:-It is the intent of the General Assembly that schools succeed with all students and receive the appropriate-consequences in proportion to that success.-(1) (a) The Kentucky Board of Education shall create an accountability system to classify districts and schools-in accordance with the academic standards and student assessment program dev eloped pursuant to KRS-158.6453.-(b) The state accountability system shall include an annual meaningful differentiation of all public schools-in the state using multiple measures that describe the overall performance of each district, school, and-student subgroup. Beginning with data from the 2026-2027 school year, performance shall be based on-a combination of academic and school quality indicators and measures, hereinafter called "state-indicators." The state indicators shall exclusively include:-1. Student assessment results;-2. Measures of individual student growth in reading and mathematics;-3. Progress toward achieving English proficiency by limited English proficiency students;-4.[3.] Student engagement as measured by chronic absenteeism, which shall be defined as a student-missing ten percent (10%) or more of yearly school time for excused or unexcused reasons-throughout the school year[Quality of school climate and safety];-5.[4.] High school graduation rates;-6. Beginning July 1, 2030, targeted qual ity measures, which shall include a measure of the-change from the prior school year on the following factors:-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+Committee Amendment Signed:-11-a. The percentage of certified teachers within the school and district who have attained:-i. Rank II status or higher as determined by the Education Professional Standards-Board; or-ii. Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;-b. For schools and districts containing students in grade eight (8), the percentage of-students earning at least one (1) high school c redit upon the completion of the student's-grade eight (8) school year; and-c. For schools and districts containing students in grade twelve (12), the percentage of-graduating students who have:-i. Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the student's-graduation date; or-ii. A parent or legal guardian that has submitted an appropriate form to the school-or district to opt out of completion of the Free Application for Federal Student-Aid after completing a district -approved presentation reg arding the Free-Application for Federal Student Aid.- The targeted quality measures shall have a cumulative weight in accountability of no less than-five percent (5%);-7.[5.] Postsecondary readiness for each high school student, which shall be included as an academic-indicator, and shall be measured by one (1) of the following:-a. Meeting or exceeding a college readiness benchmark score on the college admissions-examination used as the statewide assessment in KRS 158.6453(5)(b) 3.[5.] or a college-placement examination approved by the Council on Postsecondary Education. The college-readiness benchmark score shall be established by the Council on Postsecondary-Education;-b. Achieving a minimum of three (3) hours of dual credit by completing a course approved-by the Kentucky Board of Education or qualifying for a minimum of three (3) hours of-postsecondary articulated credit associated with a statewide articulation agreement;-c. Achieving a benchmark score on an Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate,-Cambridge Advanced International, or other nationally recognized exam approved by the-Kentucky Board of Education that generally qualifies the student for three (3) or more-hours of college credit;-d. Completing a required number of hours or achieving a ben chmark within an-apprenticeship, cooperative, or internship that is:-i. Not required to be offered as a high school course or during the regular school day,-week, or year;-ii. Aligned with a credential or associate degree; and-iii. Approved by the Kentucky Board of Education after receiving input from the Local-Superintendents Advisory Council; or-e. Achieving any industry -recognized certifications, licensures, or credentials, with more-weight in accountability for industry -recognized certifications , licensures, or credentials-identified as high demand in accordance with the process described in paragraph (e) of-this subsection. Eligible industry -recognized certifications, licensures, or credentials shall-not be limited to those earned in conjunction with a minimum sequence of courses. Each-high school shall publicly report the credits, hours, and credentials on an annual basis; and-8.[6.] Any other factor mandated by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114 --95, or its successor.-(c) 1. [Beginning with data from the 2020 -2021 and 2021-2022 school years, the accountability system-performance for each district, school, and student subgroup determined by the state indicators-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 12-shall be based on a combination of annual performance, her einafter called "status," and-improvement over time, hereinafter called "change."-2. Status and change shall receive equal weight in determining overall performance. For all students-as a group and separately for individual subgroups, status shall be deter mined, beginning with-the data from the 2020 -2021 academic year, by using the current year performance and change-shall be determined, beginning with the data from the 2021 -2022 academic year, by using the-difference in performance from the prior to curren t year, except change shall be based on the-difference in performance for the prior three (3) years for the purpose of determining the lowest --performing five percent (5%) of schools under KRS 160.346(2) and (3).-3. For each state indicator, there shall be five (5) status levels ranging from very high to very low-and five (5) change levels ranging from increased significantly to declined significantly.-4. The percentile cut scores for status and change levels shall be based on distribution and shall be-approved by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Local Superintendents Advisory-Council. The cut scores shall remain in place for at least six (6) years unless existing cut scores-no longer support meaningful differentiation of schools as required by th e federal Every Student-Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-95, or its successor.-(d) Beginning in the fall of 2022, ] The Kentucky Department of Education shall develop an online display-of the state accountability system results hereinafter called a "da shboard." A color -coded-performance level for each state indicator and overall performance shall be displayed in a-straightforward manner on the dashboard [for overall performance, status, and change ] by-district, school, and individual subgroups. Overall performance shall aggregate all available data-for the state indicators.-2. The percentile cut scores for the color -coded performance level for each state indicator and-overall performance shall be based on distribution and shall be approved by the Kentuck y-Department of Education and the Local Superintendents Advisory Council. The cut scores-shall remain in place for at least six (6) years unless existing cut scores no longer support a-meaningful differentiation of schools as required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of-2015, Pub. L. No. 114-95, or its successor.-(d)[(e)] Based on data from the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics, each local-workforce investment board, in conjunction with local economic development organizations from its-state regional sector, shall annually compile a list of industry -recognized certifications, licensures, and-credentials specific to the state and regional workforce area, rank them by demand for the state and-regional area, and provide the list to the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board. The Kentucky-Workforce Innovation Board, in conjunction with the Kentucky Department of Education, may revise-the lists before the Kentucky Department of Education disseminates the lists to all school districts to be-used as postsecondary readiness indicators.-(e)[(f)] 1. The Kentucky Department of Education shall pay for the cost of an assessment taken by a-high school student for attaining an industry -recognized certification, credential, or licensure if-the student consecutively completes at least two (2) related career pathway courses approved by-the department prior to taking the assessment.-2. If a high school student has not completed the two (2) course requirement described in-subparagraph 1. of this par agraph but meets performance -based experience eligibility and passes-an assessment, the department shall provide a weighted reimbursement amount to the school-district for the cost of the assessment based on the level of demand of the certificate, credenti al,-or license earned. The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate regulations establishing-the performance -based experience eligibility requirements and weighted reimbursement-amounts.-(f)[(g)] Prior to promulgating administrative regulations to revi se the accountability system, the board-shall seek advice from the School Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Council; the Office of-Education Accountability; the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee; and-the department's technical advisory committee.-(2) A student's test scores shall be counted in the accountability measure of:-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+Floor Amendment LRC Drafter:-13-(a) 1. The school in which the student is currently enrolled if the student has been enrolled in that-school for at least a full academic year as defined by the Kentucky Board of Education; or-2. The school in which the student was previously enrolled if the student was enrolled in that school-for at least a full academic year as defined by the Kentucky Board of Education; and-(b) The school district if the student is enrolled in the district for at least a full academic year as defined by-the Kentucky Board of Education; and-(c) The state if the student is enrolled in a Kentucky public school prior to the beginning of the statewide-testing period.-(3) After receiving the advice of the Office of Education Accountability; the School Curriculum, Assessment, and-Accountability Council; and the department's technical advisory committee, the Kentucky Board of Education-shall promulgate an administrative regulat ion in conformity with KRS 158.6471 and 158.6472 and KRS-Chapter 13A to establish more rigorous action, intervention, and appropriate consequences for schools that fail-to exit comprehensive support and improvement status described in KRS 160.346. The cons equences shall be-designed to improve the academic performance and learning environment of identified schools and may-include but not be limited to:-(a) A review and audit process to determine the appropriateness of a school's or district's classification and-to recommend needed assistance;-(b) School and district improvement plans;-(c) Eligibility to receive Commonwealth school improvement funds under KRS 158.805;-(d) Education assistance from highly skilled certified staff; and-(e) Observation of school personnel.-(4) All students who drop out of school during a school year shall be included in a school's annual average school-graduation rate calculation.-(5) After receiving the advice of the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee, the Office-of Education Accountability; the School Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability Council; and the-department's technical advisory committee, the Kentucky Board of Education may promulgate by-administrative regulation, in conformity with KRS 158.6 471 and 158.6472 and KRS Chapter 13A, a system of-district accountability that includes establishing a formula for accountability, goals for improvement over a-three (3) year period, rewards for leadership in improving teaching and learning in the district , and-consequences that address the problems and provide assistance when one (1) or more schools in the district fail-to exit comprehensive support and improvement status after three (3) consecutive years of implementing the-turnaround intervention process described in KRS 160.346.-(6) After receiving the advice of the Office of Education Accountability; the School Curriculum, Assessment, and-Accountability Council; and the department's technical advisory committee, the Kentucky Board of Education-shall promulgate administrative regulations in conformity with KRS 158.6471 and 158.6472 and KRS Chapter-13A to establish a process whereby a school or school district shall be allowed to appeal any performance-judgment made by the department under this section or KRS 160.346 of a principal, superintendent, school, or-school district which it considers grossly unfair. Upon appeal, an administrative hearing shall be conducted in-accordance with KRS Chapter 13B. The state board may adjust a performance judgment on app eal when-evidence of unusual circumstances warrants the conclusion that the performance judgment is based on fraud or-a mistake in computations, is arbitrary, is lacking any reasonable basis, or when there are significant new-circumstances occurring during the three (3) year assessment period which are beyond the control of the-appellant school or school district.-(7) Advice and recommendations provided by the department's technical advisory committee shall be summarized-and reported by the department by Ju ly 1 and December 1 of each year to the Office of Education-Accountability. The report shall include:-(a) Advice and recommendations provided by panel members relating to:-1. Development and modification to the assessment and accountability system;-2. The development of administrative regulations governing the assessment and accountability-system;-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 14-3. The setting of standards used in the assessment and accountability system; and-4. KRS 158.6453, 158.6455, 158.782, or 158.860; and-(b) Any documentation used by the panel in support of the panel's advice and recommendations.- Upon receipt of the report, the Office of Education Accountability shall forward the report to the Education-Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee and the co -chairs of the Inter im Joint Committee on-Education.-Section 4. KRS 158.6459 is amended to read as follows:-(1) A high school student whose highest score on the college admissions examination under KRS-158.6453(5)(b)3.[5.] in English, reading, or mathematics is below the systemwide standard established by the-Council on Postsecondary Education for entry into a credit -bearing course at a public postsecondary institution-without placement in a remedial course or an entry -level course with supplementary academic support shall be-provided the opportunity to participate in accelerated learning designed to address his or her identified-academic deficiencies prior to high school graduation.-(2) A high school, in collaboration with its school district, shall develop and implement accelerated learning that:-(a) Allows a student's learning plan to be individualized to meet the student's academic needs based on an-assessment of test results and consultation among parents, teachers, and the student; and-(b) May include changes in a student's class schedule.-(3) The Kentucky Department of Education, the Council on Postsecondary Education, and public postsecondary-institutions shall offer support and technical assistance to schools and scho ol districts in the development of-accelerated learning.-Section 5. KRS 164.7874 is amended to read as follows:-As used in KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885:-(1) "Academic term" means a semester or other time period specified in an administrative regulation prom ulgated-by the authority;-(2) "Academic year" means a period consisting of at least the minimum school term, as defined in KRS 158.070;-(3) "ACT score" means the composite score achieved on the American College Test at a national test site on a-national te st date or the college admissions examination administered statewide under KRS-158.6453(5)(b)3.[5.] if the exam is the ACT, or an equivalent score, as determined by the authority, on the-SAT administered by the College Board, Inc.;-(4) "Authority" means the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority;-(5) "Award period" means the fall and spring consecutive academic terms within one (1) academic year;-(6) "Council" means the Council on Postsecondary Education created under KRS 164.011;-(7) "Eligible high school student" means any person who:-(a) Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and Kentucky resident;-(b) Was enrolled after July 1, 1998:-1. In a Kentucky high school for at least one hundred forty (140) days of the minimum school term-unless exempted by the authority's executive director upon documentation of extreme hardship,-while meeting the KEES curriculum requirements, and was enrolled in a Kentucky high school at-the end of the academic year;-2. In a Kentucky high school for the fall academic term of the senior year and who:-a. Was enrolled during the entire academic term;-b. Completed the high school's graduation requirements during the fall academic term; and-c. Was not enrolled in a secondary school during any other academic term of that academic-year; or-3. In the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the Craft Academy for-Excellence in Science and Mathematics, or in high school at a model and practice school under-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+Adopted: Date:-15-KRS 164.380 while meeting the Kentu cky educational excellence scholarship curriculum-requirements;-(c) Has a grade point average of 2.5 or above at the end of any academic year beginning after July 1, 1998,-or at the end of the fall academic term for a student eligible under paragraph (b) [ ]2. of this subsection;-and-(d) Is not a convicted felon;-(8) "Eligible postsecondary student" means a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and-Kentucky resident, as determined by the participating institution in accordance with criteria established by the-council for the purposes of admission and tuition assessment, who:-(a) Earned a KEES award;-(b) Has the required postsecondary GPA and credit hours required under KRS 164.7881;-(c) Has remaining semesters of eligibility under KRS 164.7881;-(d) Is enrolled in a participating institution as a part-time or full-time student; and-(e) Is not a convicted felon;-(9) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary program of study that meets the full -time-student requirements of the participating institution in which the student is enrolled;-(10) "Grade point average" or "GPA" means the grade point average earned by an eligible student and reported by-the high school or participating institution in which th e student was enrolled based on a scale of 4.0 or its-equivalent if the high school or participating institution that the student attends does not use the 4.0 grade-scale;-(11) "High school" means any Kentucky public high school, the Gatton Academy of Math ematics and Science in-Kentucky, the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, a high school of a model and-practice school under KRS 164.380, and any private, parochial, or church school located in Kentucky that has-been certified by the Ke ntucky Board of Education as voluntarily complying with curriculum, certification,-and textbook standards established by the Kentucky Board of Education under KRS 156.160;-(12) "KEES" or "Kentucky educational excellence scholarship" means a scholarship pro vided under KRS 164.7871-to 164.7885;-(13) "KEES award" means:-(a) For an eligible high school student, the sum of the KEES base amount for each academic year of high-school plus any KEES supplemental amount, as adjusted pursuant to KRS 164.7881; and-(b) For a student eligible under KRS 164.7879(3)(e), the KEES supplemental amount as adjusted pursuant-to KRS 164.7881;-(14) "KEES award maximum" means the sum of the KEES base amount earned in each academic year of high-school plus any KEES supplemental amount earned;-(15) "KEES base amount" or "base amount" means the amount earned by an eligible high school student based on-the student's GPA pursuant to KRS 164.7879;-(16) "KEES curriculum" means five (5) courses of study, except for students who meet the crite ria of subsection-(7)(b)2. of this section, in an academic year as determined in accordance with an administrative regulation-promulgated by the authority;-(17) "KEES supplemental amount" means the amount earned by an eligible student based on the student' s ACT-score pursuant to KRS 164.7879;-(18) "KEES trust fund" means the Wallace G. Wilkinson Kentucky educational excellence scholarship trust fund;-(19) "On track to graduate" means the number of cumulative credit hours earned as compared to the number of-hours determined by the postsecondary education institution as necessary to complete a bachelor's degree by-the end of eight (8) academic terms or ten (10) academic terms if a student is enrolled in an undergraduate-program that requires five (5) years of study;-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 16-(20) "Participating institution" means an "institution" as defined in KRS 164.001 that is eligible to participate in the-federal Pell Grant program, executes a contract with the authority on terms the authority deems necessary or-appropriate for the administration of its programs, and:-(a) 1. Is publicly operated;-2. Is licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has operated for at least ten (10) years, offers-an associate or baccalaureate degree program of study not comprised solely of sectarian-instruction, and admits as regular students only high school graduates, recipients of a High-School Equivalency Diploma, or students transferring from another accredited degree granting-institution; or-3. Is designated by the authority as an approved out -of-state institution that offers a degree program-in a field of study that is not offered at any institution in the Commonwealth; and-(b) Continues to commit financial resources to student financial assistance programs; and-(21) "Part-time student" means a s tudent enrolled in a postsecondary program of study who does not meet the full --time student requirements of the participating institution in which the student is enrolled and who is enrolled-for at least six (6) credit hours, or the equivalent for an institution that does not use credit hours.-Section 6. KRS 157.069 is amended to read as follows:-(1) As used in this section:-(a) "Administrative operations costs" means costs associated with the operations and staffing of a state --operated area technology center, including but not limited to personnel, facility costs, building utilities-and maintenance, and custodial and office supplies;-(b) "Approved career and technical education dual credit" means earning a grade of "C" or higher for a-Kentucky Department of Education -approved career and technical education dual credit course-equivalent to three (3) hours of college credit;-(c) "Approved career and technical education pathway" means a four (4) course career and technical-education pathway appro ved by the Kentucky Department of Education that provides a coherent,-articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career -related courses within a career and technical-education program area, and leads to an associate degree, an industry -recognized certificate or license,-or a baccalaureate or higher degree;-(d) "Concentrator" means a student who has earned at least two (2) credits for no less than two (2) courses-in a single career and technical education pathway;-(e) "Converted career and technical educa tion center" means a center providing locally operated career and-technical education for which a local district assumed authority from the state for the management and-control of the center during the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, or 2022-2023 academic years;-(f) "General-cost career and technical education program" means a career and technical education program-or pathway in which high-cost technical equipment, materials, or facilities are not required;-(g) "General-cost full-time equivalents" means the total num ber of secondary students enrolled in general --cost career and technical education programs, multiplied by the number of hours those students are-enrolled, and divided by six (6) hours;-(h) "High-cost career and technical education program" means a career a nd technical education program or-pathway in which high-cost equipment, materials, or facilities are required;-(i) "Locally operated career and technical education" means a district program that provides secondary-students with one (1) or more approved career and technical education pathways;-(j) "State-operated area technology center" means a state -operated secondary school facility with the-primary purpose of offering approved career and technical education pathways;-(k) "Supplemental funding" or "supplem ental funds" means moneys appropriated by the General Assembly-to support qualifying locally operated career and technical education centers and programs and state --operated area technology centers and programs based on enrollment and incentive criteria;-(l) "Technical skill attainment" means earning an industry -recognized certification, licensure, or credential-as identified by the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board pursuant to KRS 158.6455(1) (d)[(e)] or-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version+Rejected: Doc. ID: XXXX-17-passing an end -of-program assessment for articulate d postsecondary credit as designated by the-Kentucky Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education;-(m) "Weighted high -cost full -time equivalents" means the total number of secondary students enrolled in-high-cost career and technical ed ucation programs, multiplied by the number of credit hours in which-those students are enrolled, divided by six (6) hours, and multiplied by one and one -half (1.5); and-(n) "Work-based learning program" means a cooperative education program, internship, or registered-apprenticeship within the student's chosen approved career and technical education pathway.-(2) The Kentucky Department of Education shall provide funds from the department's annual general fund-appropriation to support the administrative opera tions costs of state -operated area technology centers and-converted career and technical education centers.-(3) For converted career and technical education centers, beginning with fiscal year 2024 -2025, the Kentucky-Department of Education shall deduct fr om funds designated for the state -operated area technology centers an-amount equal to the administrative operations costs of each converted career and technical education center in-the amount received by the center in the most recent fiscal year that the c enter was under state management-and control. The funds for each converted career and technical education center shall be divided as follows:-(a) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the funds shall be sent to the local district that has assumed management-and control of the center; and-(b) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the funds shall be sent to the career and technical education innovation-and support fund established in subsection (4) of this section.-(4) (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a r estricted fund to be known as the career and-technical education innovation and support fund to receive the funds allocated under subsection (3)(b)-of this section. The fund shall consist of moneys received from state appropriations, gifts, grants, and-federal funds. The fund shall be administered by the Office of Career and Technical Education.-Amounts deposited in the fund shall be used for:-1. Supporting innovation in new or emerging career fields;-2. Supporting state -operated area technology centers tha t may experience hardship or natural-disasters;-3. Personnel costs to provide technical assistance to local districts providing locally operated career-and technical education, including technical assistance relating to the monitoring and oversight-on the use of supplemental career and technical education funding; and-4. Any other purposes reasonably related to improving student outcomes in career and technical-education.-(b) Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, fund amounts not expended at the close of a fiscal year shall not lapse-but shall be carried forward into the next fiscal year.-(5) Beginning with the 2024 -2025 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Kentucky Department of-Education shall distribute to local districts providing locally operated career and technical education and to-state-operated area technology centers all general funds designated as supplemental funds to career and-technical education programs, subject to the following:-(a) A local district providing locally operated career and technical education or a state -operated area-technology center shall maintain eligibility for receipt of federal funding pursuant to the Strengthening-Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, Pub. L. No. 115 -224, to be eligible to receive-supplemental funding pursuant to this subsection;-(b) All supplemental funds distributed pursuant to this subsection shall be used to improve student-outcomes in career and technical education pathways for students in grades nine (9) through twel ve-(12), including but not limited to student supplies, resources, materials, and equipment that is designed-for enhanced quality of instruction in a career and technical education pathway, the purchase and-maintenance of industry standard equipment, assis ting students with achieving technical skill-attainment, and supporting career and technical student organization participation;-(c) 1. Supplemental funds for career and technical education shall be divided and allocated to each-local district providing locally operated career and technical education and to each state -operated-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 18-area technology center, with sixty percent (60%) dedicated for enrollment -based funding and-forty percent (40%) for incentive-based funding.-2. The sixty percent (60%) enrollment -based funding shall be based on a statewide full -time-equivalent calculation of the total weighted high -cost full-time equivalents and general -cost full--time equivalents during the prior school year, subject to the following:-a. The department shall then dist ribute the enrollment -based funds for each state -operated-area technology center or local district providing locally operated career and technical-education based on the center's or district's proportional share of the combined weighted-high-cost full-time equivalents and general-cost full-time equivalents of the prior year;-b. The department shall distribute the state -operated area technology center fund portion to-the respective state -operated area technology centers and the local district fund portion to-the respective local districts; and-c. The department shall classify qualifying programs as either a high -cost career and-technical education program or a general-cost career and technical education program.-3. The forty percent (40%) incentives -based fun ding shall be based on an annual statewide-calculation of the total number of qualifying student incentives. The calculation shall only use-students that are in grade twelve (12) and use the total incentives earned by those students during-secondary education at a state -operated area technology center or within a local district. Once a-student has been included in a year's calculation, that student shall not be included in any-subsequent year's calculation, subject to the following:-a. Qualifying student incentives for students in their grade twelve (12) year shall include:-i. Reaching the designation of a concentrator;-ii. Technical skill attainment;-iii. Completing a required number of hours or achieving a benchmark within a work --based learning program; and-iv. Earning an approved career and technical education dual credit;-b. The incentives in subdivision a. of this subparagraph shall be allotted to the state -operated-area technology center or local district in which it was earned. Each type of incentive s hall-only be counted once per student at state -operated area technology centers and once per-student at local districts for a maximum of four (4) incentives per student at state -operated-area technology centers and four (4) incentives at local districts th roughout their-secondary career and technical education. For incentive criteria that is achieved more than-once at state-operated area technology centers, the incentive shall be counted for the state --operated area technology center where it was first achie ved. For incentive criteria that is-achieved more than once at local districts, the incentive shall be counted for the local-district where it was first achieved;-c. The department shall distribute incentives -based funds for each state -operated area-technology center or local district based on the center's or district's proportional share of-the combined number of qualifying student incentives achieved by students in grade-twelve (12) at a state -operated area technology center or within a local district thr oughout-their secondary career and technical education. The incentives -based funds shall be-distributed to the state -operated area technology center or local district in which the-incentive was achieved; and-d. The department shall distribute the state -operated area technology center fund portion to-the respective state -operated area technology centers and the local district fund portion to-the respective local districts;-(d) There shall be no mid -year adjustment to the allocation of career and technical ed ucation supplemental-funding for a center or local district; and-(e) Notwithstanding the restriction in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a district may submit a waiver-request to the Office of Career and Technical Education to use a portion of its allocat ion of-supplemental funds for career and technical education programming for students in grades (5) through-CHAPTER 138-Legislative Research Commission PDF Version--19-eight (8). The district shall submit a request which details the district's plan for career and technical-education programming for students in grad es five (5) through eight (8). In reviewing the request, the-Office of Career and Technical Education shall consider whether:-1. The district details a plan for orientation and exploration of broad -based industries by giving-students knowledge and experien ce regarding careers within these industries and exploratory or-hands-on skills used in the industry;-2. There is direct alignment between middle and secondary career and technical education-pathways within the requesting district; and-3. Such designation of supplemental funding for programming for students in grades five (5)-through eight (8) does not have a significant detrimental impact on the programming available-for students in secondary grades.-(6) The Office of Career and Technical Educa tion shall monitor and provide oversight of state funds distributed-pursuant to this section to ensure that the use of funding by eligible recipients meets the approved criteria as-described in this section.-(7) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promul gate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS-Chapter 13A as may be needed in the administration of this section and for disbursement of moneys.-(8) The Kentucky Department of Education shall publish on the department's website:-(a) The list of al l career and technical education programs available to students and the program's-designation as a high -cost career and technical education program or as a general -cost career and-technical education program;-(b) A report of the supplemental funding amount s provided to each local district and to each state -operated-area technology center, including an explanation of the amount designated as enrollment -based funding-and as incentives-based funding; and-(c) A report of the administrative operations costs prov ided to each state -operated area technology center-and to each converted career and technical education center, as well as the amount contributed toward-the career and technical education innovation and support fund.-Section 7. No later than November 1, 2026, the Kentucky Department of Education shall submit a study-report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Education on middle-school mathematics and advanced mathematics coursework opportunities. At a min imum, the report shall address:-(1) Existing local policies and procedures governing student assignment to advanced mathematics-coursework in general and advanced middle school mathematics coursework specifically;-(2) The current availability of advanced m athematics coursework in Kentucky public middle schools,-identifying the following for public middle schools that offer advanced mathematics coursework:-(a) Eligibility criteria for students to be identified for participation in the advanced mathematics-coursework;-(b) Methods for how students are being identified for participation in the advanced mathematics-coursework;-(c) For each school district, the number and percentage of students participating in advanced mathematics-coursework opportunities by grade level;-(d) For each school district, the number and percentage of students who complete advanced middle school-mathematics coursework and enroll in Algebra I by grade 8;-(e) The defined sequence of advanced mathematics coursework offered in grades 6 to 8 and the means of-delivering those offerings to students, including whether the course is:-1. Offered virtually, in person, or both;-2. Offered exclusively to middle school students or in a combined setting with middle and high school-students; and-3. Taught by a teacher whose primary course load is middle school students or taught by a teacher whose-primary course load is high school students;-ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 20-(f) Whether any advanced mathematics coursework previously offered is no longer available to students-and the reason for no longer offering that coursework;-(g) How the school districts are providing appropriate staffing to support offering access to advanced-mathematics coursework; and-(h) Barriers the school districts encountered in providing advanced mathematics co ursework opportunities,-and strategies for overcoming these barriers;-(3) A list of each middle school that does not offer advanced mathematics coursework to students that-identifies:-(a) The accelerated learning opportunities to which middle school stude nts in each identified school are-offered access;-(b) The specific staffing and facility needs for each identified school to transition to offering access to-advanced mathematics coursework;-(c) Any scheduling constraints reported by each identified schoo l as a barrier to offering access to-advanced mathematics coursework;-(d) Other barriers identified by school districts to offering middle school students enrolled in each-identified school access to advanced mathematics coursework; and-(e) If the middle school historically offered advanced mathematics coursework, the specific reasons the-school no longer offers that coursework;-(4) The recent rates of participation in advanced mathematics courses of middle school students,-identifying the n umber and percentage of students in each school district's current grade 9, grade 10, grade 11, and-grade 12 cohorts that successfully completed designated advanced coursework in middle school;-(5) Best-practice strategies for ensuring that students are a cademically prepared for advanced middle-school mathematics coursework, including identification of advanced coursework opportunities or other academic-enrichment opportunities that best prepare students for Algebra I coursework by grade 8;-(6) Analysis o f school district capacity and needs to implement a policy providing all public school-students in Kentucky with access to Algebra I coursework by grade 8, including but not limited to:-(a) The availability of qualified teachers and staff to support implem entation of the policy across each-region of the Commonwealth;-(b) The scheduling constraints reported by each district;-(c) Course selection availability in each district and projected enrollment caps; and-(d) Facility, technology, and distance-learning capacity of each district;-(7) An analysis of any curriculum gaps between advanced mathematics coursework and grade -level-mathematics standards for the courses in which the student would otherwise be enrolled and strategies to ensure that-advanced mathematics students master those grade-level standards; and-(8) Legislative recommendations to promote and encourage advanced mathematics coursework for middle-school students, including but not limited to recommended strategies for:-(a) Automatic enrollment in advanced middle school mathematics coursework;-(b) Identifying middle school students to participate in advance mathematics coursework; and-(c) Small, medium, and large school districts to implement advanced mathematics coursework.-Section 8. Notwithstand ing KRS 156.070(6), the Kentucky Department of Education is hereby authorized-to collect data and reports from Kentucky public schools and school districts relevant to inform the study report-required by Section 7 of this Act.-Signed by Governor April 13, 2026.+Page 1 of 1+ On page 2, line 22 to page 3, line 5, delete all language; and+On page 3, line 6, delete "(6)" and insert "(5)" in lieu thereof.
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