Fayette County superintendent details 2026 education bills, highlighting safety, curriculum and budget changes

Superintendent staff and district policy lead Tracy Bruno gave a comprehensive review of the 2026 legislative session and its implications for Fayette County Public Schools during the June 8 planning work session.

Key provisions summarized included House Bill 7, which authorizes stop‑arm camera systems on school buses, sets penalties (transcript referenced $300 for a first offense and $500 for subsequent offenses) and allows the school district to retain revenue generated from violations; law enforcement may charge a processing fee. House Bill 67 revises permitted electronic communications between staff and students, lists enumerated exemptions (including emergency situations and certain educational platforms), and prescribes options such as a district app, waivers, including another staff member/volunteer in communications, or including parents on message threads.

Bruno also reviewed House Bill 253, which requires Kentucky Department of Education‑approved, evidence‑based reading curriculum (phonics/structured literacy) by the 2029–30 school year and bars the use of non‑disclosure agreements related to employee misconduct involving minors. House Bill 392 raises the small‑purchase threshold requiring board approval from $40,000 to $50,000 (with scheduled increases every five years starting in 2030). House Bill 500 adjusts SEEK per‑pupil funding levels and local effort calculations; Bruno noted the district’s local revenue means the district will receive a lower state SEEK share than the nominal per‑pupil figure. The KEYS scholarship qualifying GPA was raised to 2.75.

On governance and discipline, Bruno outlined Senate Bill 4’s principal leadership practicum and provisions standardizing five‑member school boards, and Senate Bill 101’s stricter expulsion rules, including a minimum 12‑month expulsion for students who intentionally cause or attempt physical injury to staff and detailed re‑entry requirements (including a 3.0 GPA maintained during expulsion, 15 hours of community service per week expelled, and a unanimous acceptance of a written apology by the adjudicating body). Board members sought clarification on implementation timelines and grandfathering for scholarship changes, and staff said they would provide follow‑up guidance from KDE and draft administrative procedures to reduce ambiguity.

District leaders said many of the changes will require administrative updates (waiver forms, staff training, and budget line‑item transparency) and that staff will bring revised operational guidance and form templates to the June 22 action meeting. The board also discussed seeking a legislative services contractor so the district has direct representation in Frankfort.