Prichard Committee Urges Conference Committee to Prioritize Upward Mobility in Final Budget
March 19, 2026
Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee
(cell) 859-475-7202
lisa@prichardcommittee.org
Prichard Committee Urges Conference Committee to Prioritize Upward Mobility in Final Budget
Tax structure changes make investment in improved education outcomes critical
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence remains committed to ensuring Kentucky’s budget reflects a clear and consistent focus on upward mobility and economic opportunity through improved education outcomes. While we appreciate areas of progress in the Senate Committee Substitute, we are concerned that key investments necessary to strengthen our workforce and expand opportunity have been reduced or left out entirely.
Access to high-quality, affordable early care and education is foundational to a thriving economy. Kentucky lags other states in workforce participation, with child care remaining a major barrier for working families. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is a critical support for low-income working families and we appreciate the Senate’s proposed line items for CCAP initiatives and increased coverage for children of child care workers. We urge similar support for CCAP provider reimbursement at the 80th percentile of the Market Rate Survey and for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program, particularly as implementation is strengthened through House Bill 6. Sustained investment in quality early care supports children’s development and enables parents to fully participate in the workforce. Read our full analysis of the budget’s investments in early care and education here.
In K-12 education, transportation remains funded below the levels required by Kentucky’s own formula. Funding transportation at its true cost, approximately $492 million, would ensure that every student can reliably access the classroom, a basic prerequisite for educational attainment and long-term economic success. It would also free up local district dollars to be directly invested in quality teaching and learning environments.
We are also concerned about the potential risk to sustained and protected investment in two critical statewide initiatives: Read to Succeed and Numeracy Counts. These programs have delivered targeted support in literacy and mathematics, respectively, with annual funding of $11 million and $5 million. We support continued line-item restricted funding for both programs in both fiscal years. We also support an additional $5M to fully implement the Numeracy Counts coaching model. Any reduction in state commitment could slow progress in foundational skills that are directly tied to workforce readiness and long-term economic mobility. These investments should remain a priority. Read our full analysis of the budget’s investments in K-12 education here.
Finally, we are troubled by proposed cuts to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). KCTCS plays a vital role in preparing Kentuckians for high-demand careers and providing pathways to upward mobility, particularly for adult learners and those seeking affordable higher education options. Despite operating with fewer resources than peer systems in other states, KCTCS has consistently delivered strong outcomes. Reducing its funding undermines one of the Commonwealth’s most effective workforce engines at a time when employers are seeking skilled talent. Read our full analysis of the budget’s investments in postsecondary education here.
Kentucky’s future economic competitiveness depends on strategic, sustained investments from early childhood through higher education. The Prichard Committee respectfully urges lawmakers to strengthen this budget to ensure it fully supports the systems that expand opportunity, grow our workforce and move more Kentuckians toward lasting economic security.
The Prichard Committee believes in the power and promise of public education –early childhood through college– to ensure Kentuckians’ economic and social well-being. We are a citizen-led, non-partisan, solutions-focused nonprofit, established in 1983 with a singular mission of realizing a path to a larger life for Kentuckians with education at the core.