education
Beshear vetoes bill subjecting Kentucky’s top education official to Senate confirmation
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a statement from the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 107, Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green. Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill subjecting Kentucky’s top education official to Senate confirmation. Senate Bill 107 would require Senate confirmation of the Kentucky Board of Education’s pick for education commissioner. In […]
Beshear signs Stivers-backed resolution for postsecondary education study
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has signed a resolution sponsored by Republican Senate President Robert Stivers that aims to study the state of Kentucky’s public higher education. Senate Joint Resolution 98 directs the Council on Postsecondary Education to complete a comprehensive review of postsecondary education by Dec. 1. A House floor amendment added a provision to […]
Irregularities uncovered in Kentucky State University audit will be referred to prosecutors
An audit that uncovered millions of dollars in undocumented credit card and federal grant expenditures at Kentucky State University from 2018 to 2021 will be referred to prosecutors and other federal agencies, State Auditor Mike Harmon said Wednesday. Interim KSU President Ronald A. Johnson appeared with Harmon at a news conference and said KSU welcomes […]
Republicans push back against education commissioner’s criticism
Two Republican office holders on Monday slammed Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass for his criticism of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation enacted by the General Assembly. House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, said in a statement that Glass “once again makes it abundantly clear that it is not the legislature that is politicizing the state’s classrooms and […]
Kentucky education commissioner says legislature put youth at risk with anti-LGBTQ bill
The day after Kentucky lawmakers rapidly changed and passed a bill to include measures banning gender-affirming care for minors, the state’s top education official decried the “sweeping and harmful” legislation. Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass said the latest version of Senate Bill 150 “contains provisions that will put our young people at risk, have the […]
With funding release for State Fair Board project added, House approves postsecondary education study
FRANKFORT — House members joined senators in calling for a comprehensive review of Kentucky’s public postsecondary education system, but added provisions from a separate resolution that releases $180 million to the Kentucky State Fair Board for capital construction. Senate Joint Resolution 98 received support from the House in a 96-0 vote Thursday. The call for […]
Kentucky House tries to revive anti-trans legislation stalled in Senate
FRANKFORT — With time running out in this session, House Republicans tried on Thursday to revive anti-trans legislation that has stalled in the Senate. In a hastily called committee meeting, provisions restricting health care for trans youth were grafted onto Senate Bill 150, described by sponsor Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, as a “parents rights” measure, […]
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 […]