Committee advances bill to protect full‑time virtual programs; Cloverport’s program addressed in committee substitute

Senate Bill 268, which updates statutes governing full‑time virtual education programs and establishes oversight and reporting provisions, advanced from the Senate Standing Committee on Education after testimony from rural Cloverport officials, parents and district representatives.

Senator Aaron Reid, co-presenting the bill with Senator West, said SB 268 “ensures that students aren't left behind by allowing full-time virtual programs to continue operating with the structure and stability families deserve.” He said the bill makes updates to reflect how virtual programs operate and adds guardrails to ensure accountability and quality.

Cloverport speakers described the local virtual program as new and rapidly scaled: Keith Haynes, Superintendent of Cloverport Independent, and Sally Johnson, Principal of KYVA (Cloverport’s virtual program), said the program serves thousands of students and that families rely on its continuity. A parent and other supporters attended the hearing; senators noted Cloverport had roughly 2,800 students enrolled and a sizable waiting list when the issue was previously discussed.

Committee members and the Kentucky Department of Education raised compliance concerns earlier; during the hearing Cloverport representatives said they were working to come into compliance with the KDE requirements cited by the department (for example, student‑teacher ratios and program oversight) and committed to improvements. The bill includes a built-in sunset provision (date in the bill: 06/30/2028) allowing the General Assembly to review performance and close the program if benchmarks are not met.

The committee adopted a substitute and advanced the bill. Members discussed the experimental nature of the program, the need to protect students already enrolled from sudden program closures, and the need to evaluate performance measurements for elementary-level virtual students. Senator Reid and others emphasized the bill does not create new programs but aims to provide continuity for existing full-time virtual programs while setting timelines and metrics for review.

Action: Senate Bill 268 passed the committee by roll call with recorded ayes and no recorded nays in the transcript. Sponsors and Cloverport representatives said the bill includes reporting and a sunset so the legislature can reassess outcomes and compliance before a longer-term authorization.

Sources: Committee testimony by Senator Aaron Reid and Senator West; testimony by Keith Haynes, Superintendent, Cloverport Independent; testimony by Sally Johnson, Principal of KYVA; committee discussion and roll call recorded in the committee transcript.