House Bill 253

Actions | Amendments
Last Action 03/19/26: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
Title AN ACT relating to reading and language arts instruction.
Bill Documents Current
Introduced
Bill Request Number 281
Sponsors J. Tipton, T. Bojanowski, B. Chester-Burton, D. Grossberg, K. Jackson, P. Stevenson
Summary of Original Version Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish an approved list of reading curriculum and interventions that do not use a three-cueing system; prohibit school districts from using any curriculum or program that employs a three-cueing system; prohibit the use of a three-cueing system in teacher professional development; require the Educational Professional Standards Board to promulgate administrative regulations establishing curriculum for each approved educator preparation program; amend KRS 158.307 to require rather than allow local boards of education to develop a policy on dyslexia; require rather than allow the policy to include listed items; amend KRS 164.304 to require postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs to include instruction on dyslexia by the 2027-2028 school year, rather than the instruction being contingent on funding availability; amend KRS 164.306 to specify that educator preparation programs shall use evidence-based reading instruction and intervention programs and shall not provide instruction on a three-cueing system; amend KRS 161.028 to require the board to include in the standards set for teacher preparation programs that the programs shall use evidence-based reading instruction and intervention programs and shall not provide instruction on a three-cueing system.
Index Headings of Original Version Administrative Regulations And Proceedings - Education Professional Standards Board, reading curriculum
Boards And Commissions - Dyslexia, local board of education, policy requirements
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Dyslexia, local board of education, policy requirements
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Dyslexia, study project, Kentucky Department of Education
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
Education, Higher - Dyslexia, teacher preparation, requirements
Education, Higher - Teacher preparation programs, three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
State Agencies - Kentucky Department of Education, approved list of reading curriculum, establishment
Teachers - Three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
Universities And Colleges - Teacher preparation programs, three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
Jump to Proposed Amendments House Committee Substitute 1
Senate Committee Substitute 1
Senate Committee Amendment 1
Votes Vote History

Actions

Top | Amendments
01/08/26
  • introduced in House
  • to Committee on Committees (H)
01/15/26
  • to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
02/04/26
  • reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
02/05/26
  • 2nd reading, to Rules
02/10/26
  • posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 11 2026
02/12/26
  • 3rd reading, passed 94-1 with Committee Substitute (1)
02/13/26
  • received in Senate
  • to Committee on Committees (S)
03/11/26
  • to Education (S)
03/19/26
  • reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)

Proposed Amendments

Top | Actions
Amendment House Committee Substitute 1
Summary Retain original provisions; specify dates by which three-cueing shall no longer be used in public school districts; specify dates by which interdisciplinary early childhood through fifth grade teachers are required to complete a science of reading professional learning program; require all interdisciplinary early childhood through grade 5 educators who received certification through Options 1 to 5 and 8 to complete a science of reading professional learning program within 2 years of initial employment.
Index Headings Education, Elementary And Secondary - Three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
Education, Higher - Teacher preparation programs, three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
State Agencies - Kentucky Department of Education, approved list of reading curriculum, establishment
Teachers - Three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition
Universities And Colleges - Teacher preparation programs, three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition

Amendment Senate Committee Substitute 1
Summary Retain original provisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district or public charter school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement relating to misconduct involving a minor or student; amend KRS 160.380 to define "abusive conduct"; require school districts to conduct reference checks; require nonpublic schools and public school districts to disclose any disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct of applicants; provide immunity for disclosures made about school employee conduct; require school districts to request all related information from public and nonpublic schools and the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB); require schools and EPSB to provide the records; require requests for information to be satisfied in 10 working days; require EPSB to create and implement procedures for information requests; require a school district to internally report and investigate to completion all allegations of abusive conduct; require all records relating to an allegation of abusive conduct to be retained in an employee's personnel file unless the allegation is proven false; require the superintendent to annually notify school district employees of self-reporting requirements; provide that certain requirements apply to public charter schools; amend KRS 156.160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to include employment standards in the voluntary certification standards for private schools; make technical corrections; amend KRS 160.151 to define "certified nonpublic school"; require employees of certified nonpublic schools to submit to a national and state criminal background check and a CA/N check; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from hiring a violent or felony sex crime offender; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement related to misconduct involving a minor or student; make technical corrections; amend KRS 156.095 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop a training related to sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships for employees to undergo; make technical corrections; amend KRS 161.151 to conform; amend KRS 158.4431, 156.492, and 158.200 to conform.
Index Headings Background Checks - School district applicants, disclosure statement
Boards And Commissions - Education Professional Standards Board, records
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Misconduct involving minors, nondisclosure agreement, prohibition
Education, Elementary And Secondary - School district applicants, disclosure of abusive conduct
Education, Elementary And Secondary - School district applicants, employment history request, deadline
State Agencies - Department of Education, certified nonpublic schools, requirements
State Agencies - Department of Education, development of training for school employees, appropriate conduct
Teachers - Misconduct involving minors, reporting requirement
Teachers - Background check, requirement
Teachers - Felony charge, disclosure
Teachers - Misconduct involving minors, nondisclosure agreement, prohibition

Amendment Senate Committee Amendment 1
Sponsor S. West
Summary Make title amendment.
Index Headings Boards And Commissions - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion
Fire Prevention - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion
Firefighters And Fire Departments - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion
Technology - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion

Last updated: 3/19/2026 8:27 PM (EDT)