SB 1, fact and fiction

Kentucky School Advocate
February 2022

By Eric Kennedy
KSBA Director of Advocacy

Senate Bill 1 has been the topic of much discussion among legislators, education advocacy groups and school district leaders. It is the top priority bill for KSBA, so it is important for all stakeholders to have a clear understanding of what SB1 will accomplish.

Is this legislation new?
SB1 is a more comprehensive version of legislation considered during several previous sessions. In fact, the bill’s primary sponsor has introduced a form of this bill each year for the past several years. A key provision of SB1 and the previous years’ bills – shifting final principal hiring authority to superintendents – has been a legislative priority of KSBA since the 1990’s.

What makes SB1 different from the similar bills considered in previous sessions?
The most notable difference is a provision assigning the final decision on curriculum to the superintendent, but only after required consultation with the school-based decision making (SBDM) council.

How will SB1 improve curriculum development?  
A concern we hear from superintendents and school board members is that the current system can create curriculum misalignment. Superintendents are in a unique position to ensure curriculum aligns both vertically (as a student moves up in grade level) and horizontally (at the same grade level across schools of a district). SB1 keeps input from teachers and parents on SBDMs intact while increasing involvement and transparency among ALL teachers and parents, and the community at large.

Some have said that SB 1 will ‘effectively abolish’ SBDMs and end parent/teacher voice. Is that true?
Absolutely not. The most significant changes to SBDMs under SB1 would provide that the superintendent – the district’s chief administrator – would have final sign-off on curriculum and the hiring of principals, but only after legally required consultation with the SBDM. They are still directly involved, as they should be.

In addition, SBDMs are charged with many other school-level responsibilities, which will not change under SB1.  

What are the roles SBDMs will continue to play under SB 1?  
Many people do not realize all the important decisions for which SBDM are responsible:

• Adoption of school budgets.
• Selection of discipline and classroom management techniques.
• Assignment of all students to classes and programs within schools.
• Approval of school schedules.
• Assignment of all instructional and non-instructional staff time.
• Approval of all extracurricular activities.
• Determination of use for all school space during school day related to learning.
• Planning and resolution of issues regarding instructional practices.
• Adoption of school emergency plan.
• Approval of school procedures.

Currently, SBDMs, a majority of which are teachers in the school, decide who will serve as the principal. Is it common in either the public or private sector that employees choose their own bosses?  
It’s not common and it’s inconsistent with how all other school employees are hired. School staff (including teachers) are selected by the principal after consultation with the SBDM. Likewise, superintendents are selected by the school board after receiving recommendations from a screening committee. Principals are the only position not hired by the person to whom they will directly report, making accountability a challenge.

Stay tuned to @KSBAnews on Twitter and KSBA publications for regular legislative updates. Read SB1 in its entirety and follow its movement throughout the session online at legislature.ky.gov.