Legislative Priorities

KASS strongly believes that education is the surest path to economic success and that our investment in education will determine our future.  Therefore, Kentucky needs quantum increases in educational attainment at all levels to successfully grow our economy and ensure our citizens can access the jobs of tomorrow. 

KASS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Funding Issues
KASS supports increasing revenues in order to provide necessary and adequate funding for education including:

  • Fully funding SEEK
  • Restoring funding for categorical programs including Extended School Services, Textbooks, KERA Preschool, Professional Development, and Safe Schools
  • Eliminating all unfunded mandates
  • Moving toward increased funding for full-day Kindergarten
  • Changing the base school facility funding formula for FSPK from 5 cents to 10 cents that would be non-recallable and fully equalize

Non-Funding Issues
KASS supports increased autonomy of local school districts to ensure student achievement including:

  • Amending KRS 160.345(b) to allow the superintendent to select principals after consultation with SBDM Councils
  • Ensuring that the local board of education can meet in Executive Session to discuss the superintendent’s evaluation
  • Continuing the authority of the local board of education to set the start and end dates of the school calendar
  • Ensuring that the school district remains the lead decision maker in the support of struggling schools.  (e.g., school assistance models should be customized to meet the unique needs of schools and districts)

KASS Opposition
KASS opposes any legislation that would allow for charter schools in Kentucky for the following reasons:

  • There is no clear evidence that charter schools have a significant impact on student achievement
  • The ‘neediest’ of children are often underrepresented in charter schools
  • Charter schools may, in fact, lead to increased ethnic segregation in schools
  • Charter schools would negatively affect financial resources in Kentucky’s public schools
  • The National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), considered by many the nations’ report card, has data that suggest that students in charter schools trail behind comparable students in public schools.  The difference between students who attend charter schools and public schools held true regardless of race, ethnicity, and income