EnactedHB 2 Workers’ compensation system reforms. Helps protect districts from cost increases.
HB 3 Workplace ethics. Requires school districts to develop workplace ethics programming in consultation with local workforce boards, while protecting existing programs; and fosters sharing of best practices among districts.
HB 30 Suicide prevention training. Mandates one hour of training for certain middle and high school staff every other year.
HB 128 Holocaust curriculum. High school and middle school curriculum must include instruction on the Holocaust and other acts of genocide.
HB 132 Financial literacy curriculum. Requires students to take a financial literacy course or district-designed program before graduation.
HB 187 Dyslexia screening. Advances the implementation of evidence-based practices for instructing students identified with or displaying characteristics of dyslexia.
HB 142 Revenue notice. Moves up the date for KDE to notify districts of revenue projections to May 1 instead of Aug. 1.
HB 147 Seizure plans. Requires schools to develop seizure action plan and offer training on seizure disorders.
HB 290 Home-school athletics. Home-schooled students are allowed to play against public school teams, but not as part of public school teams.
HB 381 Filing deadline. Starting in 2020, would move the filing deadline for school board candidates from August to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June.
HB 527 School placement for foster children. Foster children are to be placed within the school district where they were enrolled prior to placement if practicable. Enrollment decisions for them will be made by the state Cabinet for Health & Family Services in consultation with the district.
SB 71 Abstinence education. Requires abstinence education to be included as part of any K-12 sex education curriculum that is used in a district. Note: this does not require “abstinence only” education, and does not mandate any sex education curriculum at all in a school or district that currently does not offer such instruction.
SB 101 School board candidacy, nepotism issues, and district vacancies. School board candidates must prove they meet the already required education credentials to qualify for the office. Reduces job posting requirements from 30 to 15 days, and reconciles different nepotism laws for school board members.
SB 140 Religious freedom. KDE is required send districts and their personnel information about students’ already existing rights to religious expression in schools.
SB 152 Teacher pay. School districts would be allowed to provide extra pay to teachers in schools in targeted or comprehensive support and improvement status.
Not passedHB 141 Emergency loans. Would have amended the already existing emergency revolving loan fund for school districts, to allow those with significant revenue shortfalls caused by factors beyond their control to qualify for loans. Note: The budget bill provides some funding to help assist the 31 districts hardest-hit by the unmined minerals tax issue.
HB 242 District consolidation. Would have consolidated the current 173 school districts into 55 districts, including the abolishment of existing school boards.
HB 247 KEES money. Would have permitted KEES funds to be used for dual credit courses and other expenses, with newly revised eligibility standards, and no increase in overall KEES funds.
HB 278 Defibrillators. Would have required automated external defibrillators in schools.
HB 595 District mergers. Would have allowed, as a last resort, a state-directed merger of any insolvent school districts.
HB 604 Trauma informed approach. Would have required more mental health professionals to be employed in schools, as funds are available; and districts to develop plans to implement trauma-informed approach in schools.
SB 36 Private school scholarship tax credit. Would have created a state tax credit for donors to funds that assist students to attend private schools.
SB 55 Board-council authority. Would have allowed superintendents to hire principals after consultation with the school council; increased school board oversight of councils; and clarified the policy roles of the school board and school council.
SB 69 Teacher tribunals. Would have changed the membership and procedures of the tribunals that hear teacher discipline appeals.
SB 103 School marshals. Would have allowed districts to appoint armed school marshals as a safety measure, under specific criteria.
SB 257 Education agency reorganization. Would have codified the governor’s prior reorganization of several state education agencies, and additionally would have moved the Education Professional Standards Board to within the KDE.
Passed, awaiting governor’s signature or vetoSB 73 Local professional development programs, non-traditional instruction (NTI) days, district calendar committee. As amended, the final version of the bill requires the state board of education to promulgate regulations to better govern the content of instruction delivered on NTI days. Final version also allows for additional members to be added to the district calendar committee, and allows for locally created, performance-based professional development programs as a pilot project.