Bill
HB 275
KEES expands to include noncertified high school grads and diverse postsecondary/workforce paths, with new base amounts, eligibility rules, and administration.
HB 275 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky) – Summary
Purpose and intent
- Creates and expands Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) provisions to include students who attend noncertified (nonpublic) high schools and postsecondary pathways. The bill broadens eligibility, adjusts award calculations, and outlines new controls to administer KEES for noncertified school graduates and related programs.
Key definitions and scope
- Clarifies terms used in KEES statute, including:
- Eligible high school student: Kentucky resident who meets KEES curriculum/GPAs and residency/disciplinary criteria.
- Eligible noncertified school graduate: a student graduating in 2026-27 or later from a Kentucky nonpublic secondary school not certified by the Kentucky Board of Education.
- Participating institution: eligible, federally Pell-participating institutions meeting Kentucky’s criteria (public or designated out-of-state options).
- KEES award, base amount, supplemental amount, and KEES trust fund definitions remain central to how scholarships are calculated and distributed.
Major changes under Section 1
- Adds eligibility pathways for students graduating from noncertified high schools and applies KEES through four-year equivalents, based on an adjusted base amount.
- Expands eligibility to include graduates who complete KEES curriculum in out-of-state or DoD schools under specific conditions and reporting requirements.
- Maintains special considerations for military families and out-of-state educational exchanges, with administrative regulations to govern reporting and approval processes.
Base and supplemental awards (Section 2)
- Base amounts for KEES awards continue to be tied to GPA for high school graduates or to ACT-derived GPA equivalents for noncertified-school graduates.
- Introduces a new mapping from ACT scores to base amounts for noncertified school graduates.
- Keeps historical supplemental awards for ACT scores, AP/IB/Cambridge exam performance, and other qualifications (e.g., Cambridge AICE) with provisions to adjust over time based on funds.
- Provides for special consideration and reporting for certain exchange and military-related scenarios.
Postsecondary eligibility and award administration (Section 3)
- Eligible student term limit: KEES eligibility capped at eight academic terms (with extensions for specific circumstances such as military service, illness, or natural disasters).
- Establishes criteria for retaining maximum award amounts across terms, including GPA thresholds (3.0 for full retention; 2.5-3.0 with “on track to graduate” conditions) and potential 50% reductions for not being on track.
- Institutions must certify GPA and “on track to graduate” status at close of each award period; loss of eligibility can be regained upon meeting criteria in a subsequent period.
- Provisions for extended eligibility in certain five-year degree tracks (up to ten terms; extensions to six years).
Workforce and other KEES enhancements (Section 4)
- Adds reimbursement options for KEES-eligible students in:
- Apprenticeships (registered programs)
- Qualified workforce training programs with articulation to postsecondary credit
- Qualified proprietary school programs
- Approved workforce solutions training programs
- Eligible college of art and design programs
- Reimbursement is capped by KEES award maximums; total reimbursements cannot exceed four times the KEES maximum.
- Requires administrative regulations to implement procedures, with coordination across Education and Labor Cabineets and Economic Development.
Affected parties
- Eligible high school students (including those attending noncertified/nonpublic schools)
- Eligible postsecondary students receiving KEES and supplements
- Participating Kentucky and eligible out-of-state institutions
- Employers and training providers offering apprenticeships, workforce training, and related programs
- Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) for administration and reporting
Procedural and timeline notes
- Bill includes extensive regulatory authority for administrative rules to implement new pathways, reporting, and eligibility adjustments.
- Applies to academic years beginning in 2026-27 and forward, with grandfathering or transitional considerations embedded in the text for certain provisions.
Overall impact
- Broadens KEES to include noncertified high school graduates and alternative postsecondary/ workforce pathways.
- Introduces enhanced funding structures and accountability mechanisms to support diverse routes to college, apprenticeships, and workforce training.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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