With the Kentucky General Assembly soon gathering in Frankfort for the 2026 biennium budget gavel, local education leaders have their eye on what could be a very formative year for schools in the Commonwealth.
Christian County Public Schools Superintendent Chris Bentzel told the News Edge that “good relations” with Senator Craig Richardson, and Representatives Myron Dossett, Walker Thomas and Jason Petrie go “a long way” when trying to meet the tight budgeting window that exists between the micro- and macro-economic deadlines.
Bentzel said he and his staff have already met with their representation, and alerted them about concerns and celebrations heading into these next two years.
Senate Bill 181 passed in 2025, and thus established strict regulations and guidelines about electronic communications between staff and students. It mandated all such communications be sent through traceable platforms, and in an effort to create safe boundaries and prevent grooming practices, it prohibited staff and faculty the uses of connecting with students and athletes through personal devices, social media or through third-party phone and online applications like SnapChat and WhatsApp.
While its intent was strong and well-intended, many administrators feel as though the new hurdles have impeded some basic tasks and actions of sports teams and classrooms, alike, and created some unnecessary barriers.
According to Joe Sonka and Sylvia Goodman of Louisville Public Media, the idea of offering scholarship tax credits could be in the works this session. Following the recent passage of President Donald J. Trump’s tax and spending bill, lawmakers can now opt into such a program — which would, in theory, bypass state constitution guidance.
Under this incentive, Kentuckians would get a one-to-one credit worth up to $1,700 for contributions to K-through-12 “scholarship granting organizations, and GOP Senator David Givens, of Greensburg, told LPM that guardrails could be on the way, noting that once we get the infrastructure in place to do it, “please be a promoter,” as “those scholarship grant funds can then go to help students, help systems, help kids in the Commonwealth.”
When Governor Andy Beshear gives his annual address Wednesday, he’s again expected to continue his vehement and vocal push for universal pre-K, which would allow all of the state’s four-year-olds have access to preschool childcare, while teacher pay could also remain a hot topic.
