Education
Northern Kentucky University sets up search for new president amidst gloomy financial picture
The Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents took several big steps Wednesday to select a new president after its budget officials outlined financial woes that may lead to higher tuition and student services fees. The board hired at an undisclosed amount a firm to conduct a national search for a new president and appointed a […]
Kentucky House approves book challenge bill after multiple attempts to alter it fail
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House rejected pleas of some Republicans to add a ban on? public drag shows and some parental rights provisions to a bill mandating a complaint process for parents to challenge school materials they consider “harmful to minors.” Senate Bill 5, primarily sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, came onto the House […]
Lofton’s Law, criminalizing hazing, clears both chambers of Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT —?The Kentucky House on Wednesday voted to make hazing that causes a death or serious injury a felony. Lofton’s Law – named after 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, a University of Kentucky freshman who died from alcohol poisoning at his fraternity house – was approved in the House by a vote of 97-3. The Senate […]
Kentucky Education Association cries foul as legislature blocks payroll deductions for its dues
FRANKFORT – A bill that would stop automatic payroll deductions for dues of certain public employees who are part of a union or association has been passed by both the House and Senate Representatives voted 66-33 on Senate Bill 7 Wednesday evening. The bill seeks to stop government resources going to political funds. The Kentucky […]
Anti-hazing Lofton’s Law passes House Judiciary Committee
FRANKFORT — An anti-hazing bill is one step closer to becoming law in Kentucky after a 15-1 vote by the House Judiciary Committee.? Known as Lofton’s Law, Senate Bill 9, was introduced after the death of 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, a University of Kentucky freshman who was found unconscious in Farmhouse Fraternity after drinking approximately […]
Bill subjecting Kentucky education commissioner to Senate confirmation has cleared both chambers
FRANKFORT — A bill that the head of the Kentucky Board of Education said would reverse decades of progress on education passed the House Tuesday.? Representatives voted 80-20 in favor of? Senate Bill 107, a measure that would make the Kentucky education commissioner subject to confirmation by the Senate. Earlier this session, the Senate approved […]
Republican senator proposes rewrite of anti-trans legislation, other floor amendments filed
FRANKFORT — A Republican senator proposed striking much of anti-trans House Bill 470 after Senate Republicans caucused behind closed doors for three hours Tuesday. A floor amendment filed around 8 p.m. Tuesday narrows the prohibitions in HB 470 and would give parents more leeway than the original bill to make health care decisions for their […]
House committee OKs 2024 vote on school choice constitutional amendment
FRANKFORT — A House committee voted 8-5 Tuesday to forward a bill that would let Kentucky voters decide in 2024 on a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to provide funding for non-public schools.? Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, the sponsor of House Bill 174, told the House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs […]
Bill subjecting state education commissioner to Senate confirmation advances from House committee
FRANKFORT — The chair of the Kentucky Board of Education is criticizing a bill that would subject the state education commissioner to Senate confirmation, saying it would turn back 30 years of progress in education.? Senate Bill 107 would also limit the state’s top school officer to a four-year contract that could be renewed. The […]
Bill mandating process for parents to challenge books, programs in Kentucky public schools advances
A controversial bill that would mandate a process in all of Kentucky’s 171 public school districts for parents to challenge materials, programs or events they consider “harmful to minors” received a House committee’s approval Monday in a party-line vote.? Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 5, said before the House Education […]
Misconduct allegations would follow teachers under bill moving through Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee advanced two House education bills that would affect processes for hiring school district employees.? Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, presented House Bill 288 Thursday, which would make it more difficult for teachers found responsible of sexual misconduct to begin working in a different school district. The Senate Education Committee voted 11-0 […]
Senate approves studying feasibility of four-year public university in Southeastern Kentucky
FRANKFORT — Citing higher education’s potential for spurring economic development in the wake of the coal industry’s decline, a resolution calling for a comprehensive review of Kentucky’s higher education system received Senate approval Wednesday.? The vote for Senate Joint Resolution 98 was 35-0. It now goes to the House for consideration.? The resolution, sponsored by […]