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Back to General Assembly
Education
On education matters the Catholic Conference works with the Kentucky League
for Educational Alternatives. Also, members of the CCK Education Committee offer
guidance and provide analysis of legislation of interest to private and Catholic
schools.
Private and religious schools in Kentucky make significant
contributions to the success of our state. Non-public school graduates are
making significant contributions in business, industry, and government
across our state. Clearly, schools do not have to be owned by the
government to educate students who will be capable of and interested in
contributing to the common good of Kentucky.
Approximately 100,000 Kentucky parents presently make financial sacrifices to
educate some 80,000 children in 380 private schools, thus saving Kentucky
taxpayers 448 million dollars annually in direct public education expense.
More information, including the full text of a
bill, is available by clicking on the bill number.
Administration
 | HB 247 -
Sponsored by Representative Tom Kerr; in House Judiciary Committee |
HB 247 requires the administrator of
each public or private elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth to
obtain and distribute, at the start of school each year, to the parents of the
children attending the school, information relating to each registered sexual
offender residing within the service area of the school; it also requires
quarterly updating and publication of information.
CCK is studying this bill and consulting with private and public school
representatives to determine if requirements in the bill are overly burdensome
and whether other means of achieving the intended results are possible. For
example, since this information is already available for all online, schools
could be required to notify parents of the website address.
| SB 113 -
Sponsored by Senator Lindy Casebier; has passed out of the Senate Education
Committee and is awaiting action on the Senate floor. |
This bill is about controlling bullying in schools. Its requirements do not
apply to private schools, but we are supporting SB 113 because the safety of
students in all schools is of concern to the Conference. The Senate Education
Committee voted favorably and sent it to the Senate Floor. However, it is now
recommitted to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, which indicates
it may go no further.
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HB 540
- Sponsored by Representative Buddy
Buckingham; assigned to Education Committee |
HB 540 is also about bullying and cleared the Education committee
February 26 and is ready for a vote in the House. Many amendments have been
filed; most harm the integrity of the bill. The Catholic Conference supports
HB 540 and encourages your support. To view a statement we hoped to offer
the committee,
click
here. The chair, Representative Rasche, did not take testimony, nor did he
allow our statement to be distributed during the meeting. A letter supporting
HB 540 was given to the sponsor for distribution to all House members.
ACTION: Call 1-800-372-7181 and ask House
Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins to bring HB 540 to the floor for debate and
passage. Urge your state representative to vote
YES for HB 540.
Transportation
CCK will support adequate state funding to reimburse counties for bus
transportation costs for the safety and protection of private school
students.
This is in the Governor's budget and will be considered by the
House and Senate. No dollar amount is identified yet in the budget. See HB
395 on the Social Concerns page.
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Advocate List.
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502-875-2841 Fax