Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB165: AN ACT relating to preschool education programs.
Status: In committee, February 5, 2026
Amend KRS 157.320 to define "eligible child" and "teaming partner"; amend KRS 157.3175 to require each local school district to provide preschool to 4 year olds who reside in a household with an income at or below 160% of the poverty level until the end of the 2033-2034 school year, and beginning with the 2034-2035 school year require each local school district to provide preschool to each eligible child; provide requirements for program guidelines; require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish and maintain a statewide unified data system; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157 to require local school districts to maintain certification from the Head Start director that Head Start is fully utilized; provide penalties; require local school districts to prepare and submit preschool expansion plans to the deparment; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations regarding preschool expansion; require the department to submit a report the the Legislative Research Commission annually regarding preschool expansion.
What the bill says
An act relating to preschool education programs.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to preschool education programs. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 157.320 is amended to read as follows: As used in KRS 157.310 to 157.440, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Administrative regulations of the Kentucky Board of Education" means those regulations which the Kentucky Board of Education may adopt upon the recommendation and with the advice of the commissioner of education. The commissioner of education shall recommend administrative regulations necessary for carrying out the purposes of KRS 157.310 to 157.440; (2) "Average daily attendance" means the aggregate days attended by pupils in a public school, adjusted for weather-related low attendance days if applicable, divided by the actual number of days the school is in session, after the five (5) days with the lowest attendance have been deducted. (a) Aggregate days shall include, in addition to the aggregate number of days attended by a pupil who was suspended during a school year, the number of days the pupil was suspended, not to exceed ten (10) days in total for the school year; and (b) Aggregate days shall include, in addition to the aggregate number of days attended by a pupil who was expelled for behavioral problems, the number of days the pupil was expelled up to a total of …
Sponsors
- Gerald Neal (D, SD-033) · primary sponsor
- Reginald Thomas (D, SD-013)
- Karen Berg (D, SD-026)
- Gary Clemons (D, SD-037)
- Keturah Herron (D, SD-035)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : introduced in Senate
Subjects: State Agencies, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Reports Mandated
Common questions
- What is SB165?
- SB165 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to preschool education programs.
- What does SB165 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to preschool education programs.
- What is the status of SB165?
- In committee as of February 5, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (February 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB165?
- Gerald Neal (D, SD-033), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB165?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb165.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.