Auditor’s report on Kentucky Department of Education set to be released Tuesday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State audit examined Kentucky Department of Education under House Bill 825.
- Audit targeted operational inefficiencies and presumably issued improvement suggestions.
- Education Commissioner pledged cooperation and ongoing agency improvements.
Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball on Tuesday will release the findings of a special examination of the state education department that was mandated by the General Assembly.
The $1.2 million special examination was required by House Bill 825 in the 2024 General Assembly, Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said in a news release Tuesday.
The legislation was among the Republican sponsored bills in the 2024 General Assembly aimed at more oversight of the state education department and board of education.
Joy Markland, a spokesperson for Ball, said as required by law, the special examination report will be released Tuesday after the Interim Joint Committee on Education receives it.
House Bill 825, sponsored by Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said the examination would identify any area of operation “demonstrating a significant lack of efficiency and effectiveness.”
The bill stated the report “shall include recommendations on how the fiscal controls and operations of the Kentucky Department of Education may be improved.”
It became law without Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s signature.
The law also said that the Kentucky Department of Education should receive a copy.
Though the report had not yet been released publicly Tuesday morning, Fletcher released a statement on its findings.
Fletcher said in every section, the report highlights the good work agency staff have been doing to support the students and educators of Kentucky.
“The audit showed that morale at KDE is high, our staff members truly believe in the agency’s work and that superintendents believe they can rely on KDE to provide them with high-quality resources,” he said.
Fletcher said the Kentucky Department of Education is an organization focused on continuous improvement.
“We look forward to utilizing the APA’s final report to identify opportunities for future growth and plans for continued improvement in service of Kentucky’s public school students,” he said
“We welcome the opportunity to work with the Kentucky General Assembly for the legislative changes necessary to accomplish recommendations within the report,” he said.
Fletcher said it took hours of education department staff time to speak with the auditors and provide the documents that were required for a deep look at how the agency operates.
Ball is also conducting a special examination of Fayette County Public Schools, which has a projected $16 million budget shortfall.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM.