Kentucky Schools

Kentucky’s legislature unanimously approved a measure last year mandating that school employees and volunteers use traceable forms of communications when they contact students outside the classroom. But now, the bill’s original sponsor wants to fix some unintended consequences that teachers and education advocacy groups have brought to her attention.

Kentucky high school students will take the SAT instead of the ACT starting this spring. A new report suggests the Kentucky Department of Education may have violated state law by switching to a different college admissions exam.

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Many rural school districts around the United States are having a hard time making up for federal grant money that's been cut by the Trump administration. Federal dollars make up roughly 10% of education spending nationally. The percentage is significantly higher in rural districts, which aren’t able to raise as much money on property taxes. The administration has withheld or discontinued millions of dollars for programs supporting mental health, academic enrichment and teacher development. Administration officials say the grants don’t focus on academics and they prop up diversity or inclusion efforts that run counter to White House priorities.

As an Ohio-based religious education group works to implement “moral instruction” in Kentucky public schools under a new law, the state’s attorney general offered guidance this week to districts considering the program.

The educational advocacy group that initially formed to combat Amendment 2 is now calling for a significant increase in education spending during next year’s biennial budget.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says a new law requiring educators and school volunteers to use traceable forms of communication with students does not appear to violate their First Amendment rights.

Some Kentucky educators are worried that the impacts of a new law mandating districts to use traceable communications systems stretch far beyond its intentions.

After the U.S. Department of Education abruptly cancelled $34 million to Kentucky school districts and $18 million for the statewide education department, the state appealed. The federal agency has now denied $10.6 million in a case-by-case review.

A student lawsuit to revive a decades old Kentucky Supreme Court case faced its first hurdle in court this week. What is the Rose decision, and why are Kentucky students in court to declare the state’s education system unconstitutional?

The U.S. Department of Education pulled out of an agreement to give Kentucky school districts more time to spend COVID relief funds. Some districts say the sudden halt jeopardizes long-term projects.