A Session of Progress, Focus on Governance, and a Call to Build What Comes Next
As the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly adjourns, one thing is clear: education remains central to the Commonwealth’s future.
This session brought meaningful progress across early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary education. Lawmakers advanced policies that will strengthen systems, are intended to improve learner outcomes, and expand opportunity for upward mobility. On the heels of strong progress of the 2020-2026 Big Bold Ask for $1 billion additional dollars invested into education; the 2026 session was a solid next step.
If there were a theme for this year’s session, it would surely be governance. Lawmakers filed and advanced several bills that sought to change governance models for education at the state and local levels. Some failed and some passed, their impact needing to be evaluated in the years to come. Read our full post on governance legislation in the 2026 session.
In early childhood, lawmakers took steps to improve childcare access and quality through House Bill 6 and House Joint Resolution 50. These measures modernize quality standards, strengthen local engagement, and create new pathways to support families and providers. Yet the structural funding challenges facing childcare and early learning remain. Read full early childhood blog post.
In K-12 education, the enacted budget increased SEEK funding and added Tier I support for districts with less local revenue. Policymakers also advanced stronger literacy instruction, principal support and local accountability measures. Those are all important gains. Read full assessment & accountability blog post and meaningful diploma blog post.
In postsecondary education, House Bill 307 created a more proactive admissions process that can help more students connect to college opportunities earlier. Read full postsecondary blog post.
However, there was also significant unmet need in the session. Legislators did not expand KY HANDS home visiting program to reach more families. Childcare funding was preserved but not meaningfully increased. Numeracy Counts received no dedicated funding to support improvement in mathematics education. Dual credit and Advanced Placement remain under-resourced. KCTCS continues to face growing demand without matching investment. These are all central to Kentucky creating a stronger workforce, healthier communities and greater upward mobility in the years ahead. For a full review of the final budget as it impacts education, please read our 2026 Biennial Budget Blog.
With a gubernatorial election season upon us, the work of shaping Kentucky’s next chapter begins now. The next state budget will reflect the priorities of the next governor, and the leaders Kentuckians choose to guide the Commonwealth forward. Now is the time to study, inform, engage – in a way that shapes those choices.
The 2026 session is over. The work of ensuring a Big Bold Future for the Commonwealth continues.