Worried KY kids will be making up snow days in June? These bills might help.
Two Kentucky state representatives have filed bills to give relief to school districts who have missed multiple days in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, which dumped several inches of snow and ice onto parts of Kentucky and caused extended school closures.
Laura Leigh Goins, spokesperson for the House Majority Caucus, described the two bills on Thursday: House Bill 631, sponsored by Rep. Myron Dossett, R-Pembroke, simply provides 10 additional nontraditional instruction days for the current school year.
The measure stems from conversations with the superintendent in Christian County, where Dossett is from, and the fact Christian County has been hit by two tornadoes in the last five years, in addition to the snow and ice this year.
“Rep. Dossett says he’s trying to be proactive and think ahead,” Goins said.
House Bill 635, sponsored by Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, would allow school districts that have used all 10 NTI days to go to a variable calendar to add time to their school days, as opposed to adding it at the end of the year.
In addition, it would allow the Kentucky commissioner of education to approve five more calamity days — days school districts would not have to make up.
That’s consistent with what has been done in the past, Goins said.
Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, the bill would also allow districts the flexibility and fluidity to change their calendar as needed throughout the year to meet the existing statutory requirement of 1,062 hours of school.
Fayette County Public Schools’ extended time off
FCPS is one of the Kentucky districts significantly affected by Winter Storm Fern. The districted canceled in-person classes for 11 straight days after the storm brought winter weather to Lexington in late January. The first four days, Jan. 26-29, were NTI days.
The district then used six consecutive snow days before returning to class Tuesday.
Only March 20 and April 13 have been confirmed as make-up days for students.
Reporter Hannah Pinski contributed to this story.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM.