Within the last 48 hours, Governor Andy Beshear has vetoed a trio of bills, and signed another, that could be the defining moment of his “education first” platform for the Commonwealth.
House Bill 9, better known as the “charter school” bill, would’ve created a number of provisions necessary for the creation of said schools across the state. Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools are independent of school districts and typically operate under performance contracts for accountability, and often target specific needs sought by local parents and organizations.
A graduate of Henry Clay High School, Beshear pointed to his original and robust biennium budget as a bastion for public education. Inside the $2 billion sought came universal pre-kindergarten and kindergarten services, a raise for teachers, state workers and law enforcement, and a required 5% salary increase for school personnel.
Beshear said the Kentucky General Assembly “simply refused” to assist public schools, and in return, he’d deny the very idea of charter schools under his watch.
Senate Bill 1, better known as the “superintendents” bill, would’ve required the captain of the state’s school districts to determine campus curriculum following consultation with principals and school councils following the appropriate stakeholder response periods. Stakeholders, of course, typically being parents and legal guardians. It would alter the hiring process of principals, requiring the superintendent to make the decision after, again, consultation with the school council.
Beshear said this burdened superintendents, and took away the power from parents and other site-based groups.
Senate Bill 83, better known as the “transgender athlete” bill, would’ve designated boards of education, or an agency designated by said board, to manage interscholastic athletics and create bylaws requiring their schools to order all teams, activities and sports based upon biological sex to prohibit male students from participating in sports aligned for “girls,” and would’ve prohibited said agencies from “entertaining complaints or investigations” of such policies.
Beshear cited his veto as a similar ruling to both Utah and Indiana, and pointed to the fact that the KHSAA already has strict, forward-thinking guidelines that prevent competitive advantage. Under these laws, Kentucky high school athletes must transition before puberty to remove hormonal advantage, or they must commit to hormonal therapies for a long-enough period before being allowed to compete.
Beshear also said a compassionate approach must be taken in dealing with children.
Among the handful of bills he inked Thursday, Beshear did sign House Bill 494, which will create a regulatory oversight group focused on student education loan servicing for the first time in the state’s history.
More than 500,000 Kentuckians have outstanding student loan debt, and Beshear said there is a need to protect consumers from predatory practices.
Beshear also tossed in two things need to happen before the General Assembly shutters its doors.
The final day for session is April 14.
