HB 11: AN ACT relating to independent school districts.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 160 to establish a process for the creation of new independent school districts from a persistently underperforming school district; define terms; establish the process for a local legislative body where a persistently underperforming school district is located to place the question of creating new independent districts and local boards of education on the ballot; specify the requirements for the questions and the board of education provisional election; establish the initial terms of office for the interim board of education; establish the transition of authorities from the originating district board of education to the boards of both the altered originating district and the new independent district; require the Kentucky Department of Education to calculate assets and liabilities of the originating district for division to the new independent districts; authorize the originating district to maintain control and use of assets until the scheduled transfer to the new independent districts and authorize the continued payments of debts; establish a negotiation process between the originating district and the new independent districts to resolve the division of the originating district's assets and liabilities; establish a deadline for the negotiation to conclude; provide a process for resolution of disagreements; establish a deadline for the transfer of all assets and debts; authorize the originating district to continue to assess and collect taxes for all districts until the close of the tax year in which the new independent districts are fully operational; provide for the distribution of collected taxes during the transition period; require the county judge/executive to call the newly elected interim boards of new independent districts to meet; allow the interim board to request assistance from the Kentucky Department of Education; establish the transition process for new independent districts to become fully functional; allow the interim board to submit a waiver request for a statute or administrative regulation to the Kentucky Board of Education; authorize the interim board to enter into service contracts with another school district during the transition; establish a process for the interim board to vote to terminate the establishment of the new independent district due to financial nonviability during the transition; establish the transition from an interim board to a fully functional board of the new independent district; require the continued collection of taxes restricted to the payment of debt or interest; waive the requirement for school-based decision making for the first year of operations of the new independent district; require the interim board of the new independent district to develop a transition plan and establish the requirements of the plan; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157, relating to state formula funding calculations, to establish a projection model for the first year of full operations of the new independent district and the altered originating district.

Sponsors

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. January 13, 2026to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
2. January 6, 2026to Committee on Committees (H)
3. January 6, 2026introduced in House