Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB759: AN ACT relating to teacher certification.
Status: In committee, March 31, 2026
Amend KRS 161.048 to modify and reestablish alternative teacher certification options as alternative routes; establish the eligibility requirements of alternative routes; delete Option 2 certification; establish a route for current professional certificate holders to expand certification and the eligibility requirements; require the Education Professional Standards Board to maintain and publish a list of academic majors, academic minors, and graduate degree academic content areas and the corresponding areas for which they shall satisfy certification requirements; make current professional certificate holders eligible to expand certification through any alternative route; require holders of professional certificates under specific routes complete training requirements to be eligible for the first renewal of the certificate; provide that the Education Professional Standards Board may require a passing score on a professional skills assessment; amend KRS 161.032 and 164.757 to conform; repeal KRS 161.049.
What the bill says
An act relating to teacher certification.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to teacher certification. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 161.048 is amended to read as follows: (1) The General Assembly hereby finds that: (a) 1. There are persons who have distinguished themselves through a variety of work and educational experiences that could enrich teaching in Kentucky schools; 2. There are distinguished scholars who wish to become teachers in Kentucky's public schools, but who did not pursue a teacher preparation program; 3. There are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's public schools as they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as shown by a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content, characteristics that empirical research identifies as important attributes of quality teachers; 4. There are persons who need to be recruited to teach in Kentucky schools to meet the diverse cultural and educational needs of students; and 5. There should be alternative procedures to the traditional teacher preparation programs that qualify persons as teachers; (b) There are hereby established alternative certification routes[program options] as described in subsections (2) to (10) of this section; (c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Education Professional Standards Board inform scholars, persons with exceptional work experience, and persons with diverse UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 759/GA …
Sponsors
- J.T. Payne (R, HD-011) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : returned to Rules (S)
- : posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill
- : floor amendment (1) filed
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
- : to Education (S)
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 96-0
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 09 2026
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 221 (March 9, 2026): 96 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Teachers, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Education, Vocational, Boards And Commissions
Common questions
- What is HB759?
- HB759 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to teacher certification.
- What does HB759 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to teacher certification.
- What is the status of HB759?
- In committee as of March 31, 2026. Latest action: returned to Rules (S) (March 31, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB759?
- J.T. Payne (R, HD-011).
- Where is the official record for HB759?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb759.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.