Senate education committee approves HB 241 with three‑year sunset for Cloverport virtual academy, narrows disaster‑day mandate

At a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Education, members approved House Bill 241 as amended by a Senate committee substitute that includes a three‑year sunset for the Cloverport Virtual Academy and changes a requirement about granting disaster days into discretionary authority for the Commissioner of Education.

The bill was presented by Representative Truitt, who said the original measure was aimed at allowing school districts affected by floods to add instructional time to the school day so they would not have to extend the school year into June. "This bill started off as a really good bill for all the districts in the state of Kentucky," Representative Truitt told the committee, but he said an amendment he had not yet seen risked turning it into a bad bill.

The committee substitute preserves a pilot virtual program in Cloverport and places a sunset on that authority through 2028, a change sponsors said was requested by the Cloverport district. The substitute also changes language in the bill so that the Commissioner of Education "may" — rather than "shall" — grant up to five disaster days, giving the commissioner more discretion when districts apply for calamity relief. Senator West, chairing the committee, said the commissioner's new discretion was the only change affecting Representative Truitt's original proposal.

The substitute and the larger bill prompted extended debate about virtual schools, emergency instructional days and oversight. Laura O'Brien, a parent from Oldham County who spoke in opposition, said her district used all 10 available NTI (nontraditional instruction) days during a recent emergency and that her children received limited instruction on NTI days. "My son only had about 35 to 45 minutes of work a day," she said, adding that not all districts provide rigorous NTI instruction.

Several senators urged caution about immediately closing Cloverport. Senator Reid described the Cloverport program as a proof of concept that needed more time to show results and said the committee added a sunset to allow further review. Senator Williams said the redesigned statewide assessment (referred to in committee as "Assessment 3.0") could provide more useful information about how virtual schools perform and argued for allowing Cloverport to be evaluated under that system.

Concerns about the private operator behind Cloverport were raised on the floor. Senator Thomas cited a recent trade publication article about Stride Incorporated and urged strict oversight, saying, "This school, Cloverport, should never be allowed to operate here in Kentucky," if the allegations prove serious. Other senators noted that much of the program funding pays Kentucky‑certified teachers and that parents had testified strongly in favor of the program, including accounts of students who had been bullied or had mental‑health needs that families said were better met by the virtual setting. "Cloverport is my lifeline," committee members quoted parents as telling them.

Senators who supported the substitute said it was not a blank check for virtual instruction and promised continued oversight. "We'll be back here in 9 months," one senator said, adding the committee could summon Cloverport for interim review. The committee also adopted a title amendment before finalizing the measure.

The committee approved HB 241 as amended with a roll‑call tally of 8 yeas, 2 nays and 1 pass. A separate title amendment was adopted.

The committee's action leaves the amended bill to proceed through the legislative process; supporters and critics said they expect further review and oversight during the interim.