Several new laws will change Kentucky K-12 schools. Here’s a list.

Kentucky schools will be operating under several new laws that were passed in the 2022 General Assembly.

The biggest battles in the legislature were over ultimately successful Republican-led bills that: could allow charter schools to open more easily in the state, took aim at critical race theory and banned transgender girls and women in Kentucky from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.

Kentucky Department of Education spokeswoman Toni Konz Tatman expressed concerns with at least two of the new laws and with inadequate education funding.

Senate Bill 1

One component moves the authority over principal hiring and curriculum decisions from School-Based Decision Making councils to superintendents and school boards. A second component requires the teaching of key concepts and historical documents related to American history.

Commissioner Jason Glass thinks while this bill is an improvement over other anti-critical race theory bills proposed in the legislation, it is unnecessary and overly politicizes curriculum, Tatman said.

House Bill 9

This new law attempts to create a stable funding mechanism for charter schools and creates possible charter pilots in Jefferson County and in northern Kentucky.

Tatman said this bill raises significant constitutional questions that will need to be resolved by the courts. There are also critical weaknesses in how the statute provides for governance and operation of quality charter schools in Kentucky, he said.

Funding

Increases in education funding were made in full day kindergarten, career and technical education, school construction and transportation services

The amount provided in the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding program will not be enough to allow school districts to increase the compensation levels of staff that keeps up with inflation or allows them to address key shortage areas, Tatman said.

This increase is a step in the right direction, but more action must be taken to stop the outgoing tide of educators who are leaving the field and difficulties in recruiting new teachers and support personnel, she said. The compensation levels of school employees are closely connected to the decisions the legislature makes.

Senate Bill 83

Bans transgender girls and women in Kentucky from competing in girls’ and women’s sports from sixth grade through college. The bill declares that school sports designated for females won’t be open to students who were born biologically male.

Senate Bill 9

The Read to Succeed bill provides students, families and teachers systems of support to engage all students in learning to read at a proficient level by the close of third grade.

House Bill 33

Allows local governments to review and approve plans for school buildings instead of just the Kentucky Department of Education. In addition, as a result of another new law, House Bill 678, every schools facilities project awaiting Kentucky Department of Education approval and all those until 2024 can go ahead and be initiated — other than those with federal requirements.

House Bill 44

Allows a local school district’s attendance policy to include provisions for a student’s mental or behavioral health status.

House Bill 63

A 2019 state law requires one school resource officer per campus. House Bill 63 requires districts to either comply with the law by August 1 of this year, or submit a waiver request to the State School Security Marshal if they are unable to do so due to financial or workforce challenges.

House Bill 121

Requires a public comment period at each regular local board of education meeting.

Senate Bill 25

Provides up to 10 days of remote instruction per school for school districts to use at the school, classroom, grade, or group level for the 2021-22 school year.

Senate Bill 102

Requires local superintendents to report information on school-based mental health services providers in the district to the Kentucky Department of Education.