Education
$150 million plan unveiled for biomedical center in Covington, would include new home for NKU law school
A lofty economic development plan for Northern Kentucky was unveiled Wednesday that would create a biomedical center campus in downtown Covington with a new facility for Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in it. Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel of Ryland Heights, chairman of […]
Public money for nonpublic schools amendment meets bipartisan resistance but clears House
FRANKFORT —?After a couple hours of debate, 12 House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing a constitutional amendment that would allow Kentucky lawmakers to give public dollars to nonpublic schools.? However, 65 Republicans supported the priority legislation, House Bill 2, in a 65-32 vote on Wednesday.? If also approved by the Senate, voters would decide this […]
Kentuckians would vote on putting public money into private schools under bill that moved from committee
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians could decide in November to let public money be spent on private schools — although the language put to voters wouldn’t be quite that straightforward — under a bill approved by a House committee Tuesday. The House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs voted 11-4 to send House Bill 2 […]
Louisville launching five-year plan for universal preschool
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s largest city took steps Tuesday to implement universal, free and optional preschool for its 3- and 4-year-old citizens.? Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that a new nonprofit called Thrive by 5 Louisville will work over the next five years with both public and private dollars to get children in the city better […]
Three finalists named in Kentucky’s education commissioner search
The Kentucky Board of Education has named three finalists in its search for the next education commissioner.? The candidates are Eminence Independent Schools Superintendent Buddy Berry, Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Robbie Fletcher and Kentucky Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Jim Flynn, according to a Monday announcement from the Kentucky Department of Education.? The board […]
Senate advances GOP bill paving the way for school ‘guardians’
FRANKFORT —?Despite opposition from Republicans and Democrats, a GOP-backed measure that paves the way for school districts to hire “guardians” to fill vacant law enforcement officer roles on school campuses passed out of the Kentucky Senate Tuesday.? Senate Bill 2, sponsored by? Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville,builds upon his 2019 School Safety and Resiliency Act that […]
Republicans and Democrats futilely oppose partisan Kentucky school board elections bill
FRANKFORT — More than a dozen senators — both Republican and Democratic —?voted against a bill that would create partisan Kentucky Board of Education elections, but the measure ultimately passed the Senate Tuesday.? In a vote of 24-14, the Republican-controlled Senate approved a bill that would transform the appointed board into an elected one. The […]
House Education forwards ideas looking at management of Kentucky schools
FRANKFORT —?The House Education Committee gave approval to two pieces of legislation that would look at the management of public schools in Kentucky.? One bill would take a deep dive into the Kentucky Department of Education’s programming while a resolution opposed by Louisville school officials would create a task force to review Jefferson County Public […]
School ‘guardians’ bill advances despite GOP lawmaker’s call for more input from law enforcement
FRANKFORT — A Republican bill aimed at increasing school security by enlisting armed “guardians” was approved by a Senate committee Thursday, despite concerns raised by Republican Sen. Danny Carroll, a former police officer, who called for more input from law enforcement. Kentucky senator wants to expand school safety law with ‘guardians’ and mental health reports […]
Kentucky Senate passes Stivers’ endowed research bill
FRANKFORT — Most Kentucky senators expressed support for legislation from Republican Senate President Robert Stivers to encourage Kentucky universities to work together on cutting-edge research projects.? Stivers, of Manchester, is backing Senate Bill 1, which would set up endowed research funding for research consortiums between two or more public universities.? Thirty-six Republican and Democratic senators […]
Republicans move forward with partisan state school board elections
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee forwarded a bill on a party line vote Wednesday that would establish partisan elections for the Kentucky Board of Education — a proposal previously called a “terrible idea” by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.? Senate Bill 8 would allow Kentucky voters in each of the seven Supreme Court districts to elect […]
Kentucky lawmakers hope school ‘van’ drivers will be easier to find
FRANKFORT —?Republican-backed bills aimed at relieving issues around transporting Kentucky kids to schools were heard in legislative committees Tuesday.? Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, presented House Bill 447 to the House Education Committee Tuesday morning. If passed, her bill would allow school districts to use passenger vehicles, such as vans, to transport kids to and from […]