Kentucky postsecondary will receive important funding increases, and P-12 education will also gain ground. Early childhood, however, will not see new investment from the General Fund. That’s the super education impacts of the new spending plan released by the General Assembly’s Free Conference Committee Report yesterday evening. Though changes are still technically possible, that plan has a very strong chance of becoming Kentucky’s state budget for the next two years. This post will highlight how the FCCR addresses Big Bold Ask (BBA) priorities, and our regular budget summary documents will be shared at the bottom.

“The Prichard Committee opposes Senate Bill 1 with the addition of Senate Bill 138 as passed this morning. Kentucky has an established process of standard revision set forth in Senate Bill 1 (2017) and a commitment to local decision-making for curriculum and instructional materials, which is inclusive of parents and local leaders. The existing process is a systemic way to develop the state’s standards and curriculum frameworks, serving to empower all Kentucky students with the abilities and capacities needed to become informed citizens and participants in a global economy. Legislative mandates, as put forth in Senate Bill 138, may reduce the quality of education provided by Kentucky’s public schools and received by Kentucky’s students.”

As passed on the House floor yesterday, the Prichard Committee opposes House Bill 9. The pilot program introduced in the bill yesterday could compel authorizers to approve public charter schools that do not meet the quality requirements for a charter applicant. Therefore, House Bill 9 does not fit our long-stated position that any charter school system be well-regulated and accountable for improved academic outcomes.

The Prichard Committee has not been a proponent nor an opponent of public charter schools. We believe that is the wrong question. Rather, the question we ask is: How do we close longstanding and persistent achievement gaps in our state?

When analyzing the research on charter school effectiveness, The Center for Research on Student Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University is still the gold standard.

A growing economy where Kentuckians have access to jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage and the opportunity to build wealth. A future where every Kentuckian can thrive, contribute to, and benefit from our shared progress as a state.

This is the Big Bold Future we envision.

Potent increases for higher education and flatline funding for early childhood? The Senate Budget offers a deeply puzzling combination of the two, especially in a year when Kentucky has the revenue to respond well to our state wide needs.

Nearly two years ago, in June 2020, the Prichard Committee released a Call to Action for Racial Equity & Justice. In that statement, we expressed our commitment to doubling down on a longstanding call for greater equity in education outcomes, for greater systemic and community accountability for the progress of each and every student. We committed to continuing to press policymakers to invest in adequate and equitable education – early childhood through postsecondary – and an accountability system that ensures each Kentucky student has the opportunities and the support to meet and exceed their potential.