Senate Education Committee advances bill to replace SBDMs with advisory councils, 10-2

The Kentucky Senate Committee on Education voted to advance Senate Bill 152, moving the measure out of committee with a 10-2 vote after public testimony and floor debate.

Senator Aaron Reed, the bill sponsor, told the committee SB 152 "modernizes Kentucky's approach to school governance" by replacing school-based decision-making councils, or SBDMs, with school-based advisory councils (SBACs). He said the measure preserves input from parents and teachers while placing final authority for hiring, curriculum and school leadership with principals and superintendents.

"This is not an attack on teachers or parents," Reed said, describing the change as structural and aimed at clarifying accountability for student outcomes.

Opponents, including Elizabeth Erwin of the Kentucky Association of School Councils and Autumn Nagle of the Kentucky State PTA, argued the bill would diminish authentic parent and teacher authority. Erwin said, "Deconstructing school based decision making is not the solution," warning that moving decision power upward risks politicizing local school choices. Nagle said the proposal "tells parents that they are not welcome in the space," saying parents could speak but would no longer have final votes on policies.

Committee members questioned the sponsor and witnesses about evidence for statewide problems with SBDMs. Senator Thomas said the bill's language "clearly mutes [the] role of parents in the schools," and Senator Neal explained his no vote by noting there had been "no fundamental research, evaluation, or indication" presented showing a systemic failure of SBDMs across Kentucky.

Supporters on the committee said the bill clarifies lines of authority and accountability. Senator Tishner, explaining an aye vote, said the bill "is about accountability to those who should hold the decision making in power" and that it preserves advisory roles while enabling clearer responsibility.

The committee adopted a committee sub and a committee amendment that removed language from earlier drafts that would have required school boards to approve every school-based policy and would have required superintendent approval for all principal hiring recommendations. After debate and explanations of vote, the committee voted 10 ayes and 2 nays to report the bill with the committee sub and amendment attached.

The committee also completed housekeeping to roll the committee amendment into the sub before adjourning. The bill will proceed to the next step in the legislative process.