Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB827: AN ACT relating to school districts.
Status: In committee, March 10, 2026
Amend KRS 160.020 to modify the minimum enrollment requirements for independent school districts to continue to operate; establish criteria for the Kentucky Board of Education to consider in an appeal of that requirement; amend KRS 160.041 to provide a merger process for any contiguous school districts; require the Kentucky Board of Education to determine the terms of merger for an insolvent district if no agreement between the school districts can be reached, and to promulgate administrative regulations regarding mergers due to insolvency.
What the bill says
An act relating to school districts.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to school districts. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 160.020 is amended to read as follows: (1) All school districts embracing designated cities together with the territory within their limits, including any territory added for school purposes outside of the city limits, and all independent graded common school districts having a school census enumeration of two hundred (200) or more children, constitute independent school districts, except those which have merged with a county school district since June 14, 1934. No independent district [other than a designated city ]shall continue to operate when its average daily enrollment[school census enumeration of children] falls below minimum enrollment requirements[two hundred (200) pupils] unless it appears to the Kentucky Board of Education that the district can maintain a more efficient program of school service by operating as an independent district as demonstrated through evidence that includes but is not limited to the: (a) District's student achievement, academic growth, school climate, and successful student outcomes; (b) Lack of waste, duplication, or mismanagement in the operation of the district; (c) Number of nonresident pupils who enroll into the district; and (d) Projected impact from implementing a merger with a contiguous district in providing an efficient program of school service and an adequate education for the …
Sponsors
- James Tipton (R, HD-053) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: State Agencies, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Boards And Commissions, Education, Finance, Administrative Regulations And Proceedings
Common questions
- What is HB827?
- HB827 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to school districts.
- What does HB827 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to school districts.
- What is the status of HB827?
- In committee as of March 10, 2026. Latest action: to Primary and Secondary Education (H) (March 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB827?
- James Tipton (R, HD-053).
- Where is the official record for HB827?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb827.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.