SB 22 — AN ACT relating to the dual credit scholarship program.

Summary

Amend KRS 164.786 to define "eligible high school apprentice" and "eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program"; include eligible registered teacher apprenticeship programs in the dual credit scholarship program; establish student and school district eligibility and participation requirements in the eligible registered teacher apprenticeship scholarship program.

Bill Text

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the Dual Credit Scholarship Program to include funding for high school apprentices enrolled in registered teacher apprenticeship programs.

• KRS 164.786

  "Eligible high school apprentice" means an eligible high school student that is enrolled in an eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program;

  Defines a new category of student eligible for scholarships.

• KRS 164.786

  "Eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program" means a registered teacher apprenticeship program that is: 1. Offered by a school district, in partnership with one (1) or more postsecondary institutions; 2. Designed to prepare future educators by providing student participants a direct pathway towards teacher certification and employment within the school district; and 3. Approved by the Education and Labor Cabinet in accordance with KRS Chapter 343 and the authority for the purposes of this section;

  Establishes criteria for teacher apprenticeship programs that are eligible for funding.

• KRS 164.786

  Two (2) general education dual credit courses over the junior and senior year; → Two (2) general education dual credit courses over the junior and senior year; or Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, an eligible high school apprentice may receive a total of twenty (20) dual credit courses, which shall not exceed eight (8) courses per academic year, that are required for admission to a teacher education program in pursuit of initial teacher certification.

  Increases the number of dual credit courses available for eligible high school apprentices.

• KRS 164.786

  {"s1"=>"To qualify for the dual credit scholarship for an eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program, a student shall: 1. Be approved by a school district to participate as an eligible high school apprentice in an eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program; 2. Submit a program commitment form, as required by the authority, that is signed by the student, parent or guardian of a minor student, and superintendent or designee; 3. Successfully complete a minimum of one (1) teaching and learning career pathway course each year of high school while participating in the eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program until completion of all required pathway courses; and 4. Maintain a high school grade point average of 2.75 or higher.", "s2"=>"An eligible high school apprentice who withdraws from the program or does not achieve the academic criteria for continued eligibility while in high school: 1. Shall not be eligible for additional dual credit courses through the eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program; 2. May receive additional dual credit scholarships under subsection (4)(c)1. of this section, except course eligibility shall be reduced by the courses taken under subsection (4)(c)2. of this section; and 3. Shall be required to repay the authority the dual credit scholarship amount paid for courses that exceed the number of courses provided under subsection (4)(c)1. of this section unless waived by the authority for cause. Any person who fails to repay this obligation to the authority shall not be awarded a grant or scholarship under any program administered by the authority under KRS Chapter 164 until all financial obligations to the authority are satisfied, except that ineligibility for this reason may be waived by the authority for cause."}

  Sets forth eligibility requirements and conditions for high school apprentices to receive scholarships.

• KRS 164.786

  To be considered for approval by the authority as offering an eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program under this section, the school district shall: 1. Design the program to offer full-time teaching positions within the home school district to students who complete an eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program and obtain Kentucky teacher certification whenever a vacancy permits; 2. Establish partnerships with postsecondary institutions for providing dual credit coursework and matriculation into teacher education programs upon high school graduation to participating students; 3. Ensure that dual credit courses taken by students participating in the program will be transferable for purposes of completing the teacher education program at the partner postsecondary institution upon high school graduation; and 4. Execute an agreement with the authority for participation as an eligible registered teacher apprenticeship program under the terms and conditions required by the authority.

  Outlines the steps for school districts to have their teacher apprenticeship programs approved for funding.

• KRS 164.786

  The authority shall provide an annual report to the secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet, the president of the Council on Postsecondary Education and the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education to include: → The authority shall provide an annual report to the secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet, the president of the Council on Postsecondary Education and the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education to include: (a) The number of students, by local school district and in total, served by the Dual Credit Scholarship Program; and (b) The number of general education and career and technical education dual credits earned by students by high school and in total.

  Clarifies reporting requirements for tracking the progress of the Dual Credit Scholarship Program.

Action History

1. April 01, 2026

   floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendments (1) and (2-title) filed to bill

2. March 24, 2026

   recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)

3. March 24, 2026

   taken from the Orders of the Day

4. March 20, 2026

   posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026

5. March 18, 2026

   2nd reading, to Rules

6. March 17, 2026

   reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

7. March 05, 2026

   to Postsecondary Education (H)

8. January 23, 2026

   to Committee on Committees (H)

9. January 23, 2026

   received in House

10. January 22, 2026

    3rd reading, passed 36-1 with Floor Amendment (2)

11. January 22, 2026

    floor amendment (1) withdrawn

12. January 20, 2026

    posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, January 22, 2026

13. January 20, 2026

    floor amendment (2) filed

14. January 16, 2026

    2nd reading, to Rules

15. January 15, 2026

    floor amendment (1) filed

16. January 15, 2026

    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

17. January 14, 2026

    to Education (S)

18. January 06, 2026

    to Committee on Committees (S)

19. January 06, 2026

    introduced in Senate

Sponsors

• Max Wise · Primary
• Mike Wilson · Primary
• Phillip Wheeler · Primary
• Lindsey Tichenor · Primary
• Robby Mills · Primary
• Stephen Meredith · Primary
• Rick Girdler · Primary
• Matthew Deneen · Primary
• Danny Carroll · Primary
• Stephen West · Primary
• Jimmy Higdon · Primary

Votes

Subjects