[♪♪] GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: K-12 ISSUES BEFORE THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LAWMAKERS FACE SEVERAL IMPORTANT ISSUES, AFFECTING KENTUCKY SCHOOLS, AS THE SESSION ENTERS ITS FINAL DAYS.

WILL LAWMAKERS CHANGE KENTUCKY’S POLICY ON NON-TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION, AFTER SOME KENTUCKY SCHOOL SYSTEMS USED UP THEIR NTI DAYS BECAUSE OF WINTER WEATHER?

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS?

THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDING.

AND IS A REQUIRED MOMENT OF SILENCE IN SCHOOLS A GOOD IDEA?

TO TALK ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES, AND MORE, WE HAVE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO: STATE SENATOR STEPHEN WEST, A REPUBLICAN FROM PARIS AND CHAIR OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE; STATE SENATOR REGINALD THOMAS, A DEMOCRAT FROM LEXINGTON, SENATE MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE; STATE REPRESENTATIVE █SCOTT LEWIS, A REPUBLICAN FROM HARTFORD AND CHAIR OF THE HOUSE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE; AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE TINA BOJANOWSKI, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY X — FORMERLY TWITTER -- AT PUB AFFAIRS KET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO K-Y TONIGHT AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G. OR USE THE WEB FORM AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G SLASH K-Y TONIGHT.

OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

WE ARE THE SAND IS RUNNING OUT OF THE HOURGLASS, RIGHT?

JUST THIS FULL WEEK HERE LEFT TO GO BEFORE THE 10-DAY VETO PERIOD A LOT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED AND TODAY Y'ALL IN THE SENATE WERE BUSY IN THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN PARTICULAR.

WE'RE GOING TO DIGRESS FROM THE K-12 AND TALK ABOUT HOUSE BILL 4 THAT DEALS WITH DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, POLICIES PROGRAMS AND OFFICES AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT WOULD DO AWAY WITH THAT.

THERE WAS INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE TODAY AND I WANT YOU, CHAIRMAN WEST TO TALK ABOUT THAT BILL.

DID IT LEAVE THE COMMITTEE THE SAME WAY IT CAME IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY, RENEE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME, HAVING US.

HOUSE BILL 4 DID LEAVE THE COMMITTEE CLEAN TODAY.

SENATOR KNEEL PROPOSED A COMMITTEE SUB DEFEATED IN THE COMMITTEE.

IT WILL LEAVE CLEAN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THIS IS AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT D.E.I.

LAST YEAR, REPRESENTATIVE DECKER HAD THE BILL IN THE HOUSE AND SENATOR WILSON HAS A DIFFERENT BILL IN THE SENATE.

AND IT WAS NOT AGREED TO AT THAT TIME.

SHE WORKED HEAVILY OVER THE INTERIM ON THE TOPIC AND WE HAD MULTIPLE INTERIM COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON D.E.I.

POST-SECONDARY D.E.I.

TO DISCUSS IT.

AND EVEN AS WE GOT INTO JANUARY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THE TOPIC AND NEGOTIATIONS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITIES AND ENTITIES.

AND WHAT YOU SAW TODAY IN COMMITTEE WAS THE PRODUCT OF THOSE EFFORTS OVER A COUPLE YEARS' TIME.

>> Renee: ARE THE UNIVERSITIES PLEASED OR MAYBE PLEASE SECOND NOT THE RIGHT WORD BUT SATISFIED WITH WHAT LOOKS TO BE THE FINAL PRODUCT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL BE 100% SATISFIED I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THEY GOT A LOT OF WHAT THEY WANTED IN THE WORK PRODUCT.

WE MET WITH THEM IN OUR OFFICES AND THEY AS WE GOT INTO SESSION, SHE MADE HER INITIAL BILL REQUEST AND PROPOSAL AND THEY MADE IT THROUGH THE HALLWAYS.

AND GAVE US THEIR REQUESTED CHANGES.

AND I DO BELIEVE WE MADE SEVERAL CONCESSIONS AND CHANGES IN THE BILL.

I SAY WE, THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MAJORITY.

SO, YEAH, DID THEY GET ALL THEY WANTED?

NO.

BUT THEY GOT QUITE A BIT.

>> Renee: SENATOR THOMAS YOU HAD SHARP COMMENTARY DURING THE VOTE EXPLANATION WHEN THE VOTE WAS TAKEN AND BEFORE.

YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SENATOR NEAL'S WHAT HE WAS PROPOSING IN HIS SERIES OF AMENDMENTS OR COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE AND WHY THAT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

>> WELL, SENATOR NEAL'S LAID OUT SEVERAL AMENDMENTS HE THOUGHT MADE A BAD BILL AND IT IS A BAD BILL, A LITTLE BIT PALATABLE.

A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES.

THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE IF YOU READ IT LITERALLY, CAN RESULT IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, THINGS THAT WERE NOT ANTICIPATED.

THINGS THAT ARE VERY HARMFUL.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK A SECOND TO TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSITIES.

IT'S VERY TELLING IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT NONE NOT ONE OF OUR EIGHT STATE UNIVERSITIES, RENEE, TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.

THAT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT HOW DYSFUNCTIONAL THIS BILL IS FOR STATE UNIVERSITIES WHO PRIDE THEMSELVES ON AND DEMAND BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY ARE IS HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVING INPUT AND THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION FROM A VARIETY OF GROUPS.

WOMEN, PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RACES, BLACKS, BROWNS, PEOPLE DIFFERENT NATIONAL ORIGINS.

RELIGIONS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

ALL THAT IS GONE NOW.

>> Renee: DID THEY TESTIFY AGAINST THE BILL?

>> THEY DIDN'T TESTIFY AGAINST THE BILL BUT THEY DIDN'T TESTIFY FOR IT, EITHER.

THEY WERE SILENT AND WE UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE SILENT.

BECAUSE THEY ARE STATE UNIVERSITIES AND APPROPRIATION DEPENDS ON STATE MONEY LET'S CALL IT LIKE WE SEE IT.

AND IT'S JUST SAD, RENEE, THAT A STATE AS DIVERSE AS KENTUCKY IS, AS AGAIN HISTORICALLY INCLUSIVE IN HOW WE'VE APPROACHED LEGISLATION IN THE PAST TOOK A MAJOR STEP BACKWARD TODAY BY THE SENATE VOTING THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> Renee: THERE ARE 16 FLOOR AMENDMENTS FILED BY THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE SENATE AND PERHAPS THAT IS DUPLICATIVE WHAT HE ATTEMPTED IN COMMITTEE BUT THERE ARE 16 AMENDMENTS.

WILL THIS BILL BE ACTED ON TOMORROW OR THIS WEEK BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT 10-DAY VETO PERIOD?

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY DAY AND WE JUST GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE A LITTLE BIT AGO.

I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION FOR YOU TONIGHT.

>> Renee: WOULD THE INTENT BE TO MAKE SURE IT'S VETO PROOF AND NOT ACT ON IT WHEN YOU COME BACK AFTER THE 10-DAY VETO PERIOD FROM THE GOVERNOR WHERE IF YOU ACT ON IT THEN HE CAN VETO IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY 100% FOR SURE.

WE INTEND TO ACT ON IT SOON, I BELIEVE THAT IS A LEADERSHIP DECISION.

>> Renee: SURE.

>> BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: AND ALL THE AMENDMENTS ARE ON-LINE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE AT LEGISLATURE.KY.GOV.

I WANT TO ASK THE HOUSE MEMBERS ON THIS BILL YOU ACTED ON IT LAST WEEK.

>> IT WAS LAST WEEK.

>> Renee: I WILL GO TO YOU FIRST REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI.

>> I THINK HB4 IS AN ATTACK ON THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS IN KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE A CHILLING EFFECT WHEREBY IF SOMETHING IS NOT NECESSARILY ALLOWED UNDER LAW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BACK UP.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION TODAY IN YOUR COMMITTEE ABOUT -- I CAN'T REMEMBER -- WOMEN IN SOMETHING.

AND THE UNIVERSITY HAS PULLED BACK WOMEN IN ARTS I BELIEVE IT WAS.

AND THE UNIVERSITY PULLED BACK UNDER CONCERNS THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NOT ALLOWED.

I THINK ONE CLARIFICATION I'D LIKE TO MAKE WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE BILL ON THE FLOOR REPRESENTATIVE DECKER MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES OR INFERRED THAT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMMING HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MINORITY STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

AND I DID RESEARCH AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING ENROLLMENT.

FEWER COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE IN THE BIRTH RATE FROM THE 2008 RECESSION.

STRONGER LABOR MARKET PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO WORK THAN SCHOOL.

NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR LOW INCOME AND FIRST GENERATION THE COSTS OF HIGHER-ED AND THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE CREATING AN UNWELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR.

WE NEED TO DO FORT D THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL.

AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.

>> Renee: CHAIRMAN LEWIS WELCOME THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON AND YOU ARE A NEWLY MINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

YOU DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON HOUSE BILL 4 AND I WILL DEFER TO YOU FOR FURTHER REMARKS ABOUT IT.

>> I VOTED FOR THE BILL.

UNLIKE ANY BILL IS IT A PERFECT BILL?

PROBABLY NOT.

WE MAYBE COMING BACK NEXT SESSION AS WE DO TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE IT.

IT'S NOT A PERFECT BILL.

BUT IT WAS ENOUGH THAT I COULD VOTE YES.

>> Renee: DID IT GO FAR ENOUGH?

>> YES, I THINK IT DID.

I THINK IT WENT FAR ENOUGH.

AND AGAIN IT'S JUST A TOUCHY SUBJECT.

YOU GOT PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE AND PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE AND HOPEFULLY WE'VE MET ENOUGH IN THE MIDDLE AND LIKE CHAIR WEST SAID, THE UNIVERSITIES RECOMMENDED TO US SEVERAL THINGS THAT WERE IN THE BILL.

THEY DID HAVE INPUT IN IT.

>> Renee: WHEN IT CAME TO CONCERN FROM MEMBERS OF THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AND OTHERS, ARE THEY HELD HARMLESS IN THIS LEGISLATION?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

AND I BELIEVE AS WITH ANY LARGE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS A REALLY LARGE BITE AT THE APPLE.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS A HARD THING TO REGULATE AND GET YOUR HANDS AROUND.

SO I THINK THE VETERANS WILL BE HELD HARM BUILDING BUT THE UNIVERSITIES WILL NEED TIME TO REACT AND ADJUST POLICIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IN THE BILL, ONE KEY CHANGE THAT WAS MADE IN THE BILL IS WHERE WE TAKE AWAY THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.

>> Renee: WHICH MEANS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS?

>> THAT MEANS IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION THE BILL HAD IN IT THE RIGHT OF A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL TO SUE THE UNIVERSITY IF THE ESSENCE OF THE BILL WASN'T MET.

THE UNIVERSITIES CAME TO US TO REMOVE THAT.

THAT WAS REMOVED.

AND NOW ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY CARRIED OUT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THROUGH A WRIT PROCESS.

AND SO IN THIS CASE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD BE THE PROSECUTOR.

AND LIKE ANY OTHER PROSECUTOR THEY HAVE SOME LEVEL OF DISCRETION.

AND SO I DON'T SEE OUR CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL IF THIS BILL WERE TO BE PASSED ALL THE WAY, I DON'T SEE THEM GOING AFTER VETERANS IN ANYWAY.

ANOTHER KEY POINT THERE IS A LOT OF CARVE OUTS IN THE BILL.

ESPECIALLY EXISTING FEDERAL LAWS ESPECIALLY THOSE PERTAINING TO VETERANS AFFAIRS.

>> Renee: IS IT FAIR SENATOR THOMAS TO SAY THE UNIVERSITY FOR SOME THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY DIALED BACK THE D.E.I.

EFFORTS AND POLICIES AND OFFICES AND PROGRAMS IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS LEGISLATION?

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT.

BUT, RENEE, I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE POINT MADE BY REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI.

I MENTIONED TODAY WAS BEING DEBATED WE HAVE MET WITH FIVE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS.

PRESIDENT CAP LAWSUIT TOW BEING ONE.

CAPILOUTO.

OF ALL OF THEM INDICATED, REPRESENT ANY, THAT THEY HAD SEEN A DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

THE BRACK STUDENT ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE HARVARD CASE IN 2023.

>> Renee: ON RACE BASED ADMISSIONS.

>> THEY'VE SEEN A DECLINE AND I SUSPECT NOW AS REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI SO APTLY POINTED OUT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE NOW WITH HOUSE BILL 4 AND THE FEELING AND ATTITUDE THAT BLACKS AREN'T WELCOME AND WOMEN AREN'T WELCOME IN COLLEGE EDUCATION YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE A CONTINUOUS DECLINE IN BLACKEN ROLL.

IN OUR STATE UNIVERSITIES.

>> Renee: JUST BECAUSE OF THE POLICY?

>> JUST BECAUSE OF THE POLICY.

THE POLICY IS NOT WELCOMING TO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RACES, PEOPLE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, WOMEN: AND I POINTED OUT TODAY THAT THE BIGGEST WINNER SINCE WE STARTED DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION HAS BEEN WOMEN.

WOMEN HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN TERMS OF ENROLLMENT AND HIRING HIGHER EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

>> Renee: YOU THINK THOSE GAINS WILL BE REVERSED?

>> I THINK YOU WILL START SEEING A SLIDE.

>> Renee: AND THEY WILL GO INTO THE WORKFORCE AND SKIP HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE ALTOGETHER?

>> I PREDICT, RENEE, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS LONG AS THIS POLICY IS IN PLACE YOU WILL START SEEING A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT, PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND A DECLINE IN WOMEN ENROLLMENT.

>> Renee: FURTHER COMMENT ON THIS BEFORE WE GET TO K-12 ISSUES?

GO AHEAD.

>> QUICK COMMENT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE I BELIEVE THE POOL OF STUDENTS ATTENDING POST-SECONDARY IS DECLINING SOME.

SO YOU DO HAVE THAT IN THE BACKGROUND.

AND IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT ALL THE CURRENT FEDERAL PROTECTIONS REGARDING ENROLLMENT, YOU CANNOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THE BASIS OF RACE, ETHNICITY ALL THOSE STAY IN PLACE.

NOTHING'S CHANGED.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ENROLLMENT THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING OUT THERE TO PREVENTED ANY MINORITY FROM ATTENDING COLLEGE.

>> Renee: BUT FOR SOME WHO MAY HAVE ENJOYED SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WERE MINORITY DRIVEN NOT JUST FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT THAT WERE RACE OR GENDER BASED.

THOSE NO LONGER WOULD BE ALLOWED, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT THERE IS A A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT.

THE WAY THOSE WOULD WORK IS IN MY OPINION, THOSE WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT IF THE STUDENT WANTED THE SCHOLARSHIP IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY A DIFFERENT ENTITY.

THE ENDOWMENT IF THE MONEY WENT TO THE ENDOWMENT, U.K., YOU HAVE THE U.K. ENDOWMENT IF THEY ADMINISTERED THAT SCHOLARSHIP OR THE PRIVATE ENTITY WHO PRODUCED THE SCHOLARSHIP GAVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE STUDENT THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO GET THEIR MONEY IT WOULD HAVE TO FLOW THROUGH A DIFFERENT SOURCE.

>> AGAIN, SENATOR WEST IS A LAWYER IF YOU READ THE LANGUAGE AFFILIATED ENTITY WITH THE UNIVERSITY, THEN YOU ALSO PROHIBITED FROM DOING -- SUBJECT TO THE PROHIBITIONS THE UNIVERSITIES ARE.

AND A FOUNDATION UNDER STATUTE WOULD BE AN AFFILIATED ENTITY.

>> Renee: IF YOU HAD A PRIVATE CITIZEN A WOMAN IN UNDERREPRESENTED INDUSTRY LIKE HVAC AND LET'S USE OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND SHE HAD PUT A SCHOLARSHIP TO GET MORE WOMEN INTO THAT INDUSTRY, WOULD THAT BE PROHIBITED?

AND SHE OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP IN HER NAME FOR THAT CAUSE?

>> SO LONG AS SHE GAVE THE MONEY, THE ANSWER IS YES.

BUT THAT IS NOT TYPICALLY HOW IT WORKS.

GENERALLY IT WORKS IS THAT THE DONOR WILL GIVE THE MONEY TO THE UNIVERSITY AND SET THE RESTRICTIONS AND PROVISIONS HOW THAT SCHOLARSHIP IS TO BE DOLLED OUT.

YOU ARE CORRECT, IF A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO PRIVATELY DONATE THE MONEY YES THEY CAN DO SO.

>> Renee: MOST OF THE TIMES YOU ARE SAYING THEY GO THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY.

>> AND THE UNIVERSITY DISPERSES THOSE FUNDS.

>> Renee: OFTENTIMES THESE THINGS DO HAVE OTHER ITERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THAT COME AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS.

WE'LL KEEP OUR EYE ON IT.

BUT THIS BILL SEEMS TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

K-12 LEGISLATION.

YOU ALSO HAD IN YOUR COMMITTEE TODAY CHAIRMAN WEST, HOUSE BILL 240 BY REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT THAT WOULD NOW IT STARTED OFF IF A KID WAS NOT READY IN KINDERGARTEN THEY WERE IN KINDERGARTEN AND THEY DID NOT PASS A CERTAIN TEST OR PERFORM WELL ENOUGH TO ADVANCE TO THE FIRST GRADE THEY WOULD BE HELD BACK BUT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE BILL TODAY, CORRECT?

>> YES, THERE WAS A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE.

WE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR THE CHANGE IN THE SENATE.

THE HOUSE GRACIOUSLY AGREED.

IT CHANGED THE MAY THE MAY IN KINDERGARTEN AND IT ADDED FIRST GRADE.

AND SO -- >> Renee: IS THAT A SHALL IN FIRST BUT A MAY IN KINDERGARTEN.

WHAT IS THE RATIONAL FOR THAT?

>> WE FELT AND THERE'S DEBATE OVER THIS, BUT AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE HOUSE, CO-CHAIR LEWIS AND REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT, THEY ARE FURTHER ALONG IN FIRST GRADE.

THERE'S MORE ABILITY TO SEE THEIR PROGRESS THROUGH TESTING AND WHATNOT.

SO YOU CAN BETTER YOU KNOW AT THAT POINT BETTER WHERE THEY ARE.

IN KINDERGARTEN, YOU ARE DOING A LOT MORE OF BASIC INSTRUCTION.

WHERE THE BATHROOM IS AND HOW TO INTERACT WITH OTHER KIDS.

SO IT WAS AN EFFORT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABILITY FOR THE TEACHER AND THE PRINCIPAL TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND GIVE THEM ANOTHER YEAR.

>> Renee: CHAIRMAN LEWIS DO YOU AGREE?

>> I DO AND WORKED WITH REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT.

AND IT STARTED OUT KINDERGARTEN AND ONE OF THE REASONS WAS 54% OF THE KIDS COMING TO US ARE NOT READY.

A LOT HAVE NOT BEEN IN PRESCHOOL AND SO FORTH.

AND THE WHOLE POINT IS PUT THE FOCUS WHERE WE JUST QUIT PASSING KIDS ALONG THAT AREN'T READY OR AREN'T READING AND WE MOVE THEM ALONG.

THE KEY POINT THERE IS THIRD GRADE.

WE HAVE TO GET THE KIDS ON READING LEVEL AT THIRD GRADE AND THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

A LOT OF STATES ARE HOLDING KIDS BACK IN THIRD GRADE.

AND I THINK THAT IS TOO LATE.

IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING IN KINDERGARTEN, THEY CAN HOLD THEM BACK THERE BUT THEY CAN'T HOLD THEM TWICE.

IF THEY HELD THEM BACK IN KINDERGARTEN THEY CAN'T HOLD THEM IN THE FIRST GRADE.

AND RESEARCH SHOWS IT DOESN'T DO VERY WELL IN THE LONG-RUN.

SO I THINK THE MORE FOCUS WE CAN PUT ON THE K-3 THE BETTER OFF WE ARE THAT HAS BEEN A LOT OF OUR EMPHASIS THIS TIME IS ON BILLS FOR EARLY ED.

>> Renee: SO OUR VIEWERS UNDERSTAND WHO MAKES THE DECISION ON HOLDING THE CHILD BACK?

>> WELL, IT WOULD BE THE TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR, CONVERSATION WITH THE PARENTS AND ULTIMATELY THE PERFORMANCE IF THEY HAVE THE BASIC SKILLS IT'S NOT JUST ONE TEST THAT WOULD HOLD THEM BACK.

THE ASSESSMENTS THEY GIVE ALL YEAR LONG.

IT IS A CUMULATION OF ALL THAT TOGETHER IN A YEAR AND NOT JUST BASED ON ONE TEST.

>> Renee: IF PARENTS BALKED AT THAT AND RESISTED THAT DO THEY HAVE A RECOURSE TO ADVANCE THEIR CHILD?

>> THEY WOULD NOT IF IT IS THE FIRST GRADE BECAUSE IT SAYS SHALL.

AND PART OF THE BILL IS THAT IN TIMES IN DISTRICTS I WAS FORMER SUPERINTENDENT 13 YEARS AND I KNOW THE PUSHBACK.

WE WOULD HAVE A KID THAT WASN'T READY AND WE'RE SAYING OUR BEST ADVICE WOULD BE TO HOLD HIM BACK.

AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT AND OUR PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER MOVED THEM ON.

AT THIS POINT IT IS A STATE REQUIREMENT AND WE HAVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR KID WE HAVE TO HAVE YOUR CHILD READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE.

IT IS A WIN FOR THE SCHOOLS TOO, AND WE HOPE IT IS.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS IF WE'RE GOING TO GET HIGH RESULTS WE HAVE TO HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND I BELIEVE AGAIN THIS MAYBE IS A PART OF IT.

THE READING BILL OF 22, WAS ANOTHER GOOD STEP WE'RE SEEING GOOD RESULTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OUR SCORES THAT COME OUT THE TEST THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY GIVES WHOOSH EIGHTH IN FOURTH GRADE READING.

SO YEAH, THE PROFICIENCY IS NOT WHERE WE'D LIKE IT TO BE BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE US IN THE UNITED STATES WE ARE EIGHTH.

I THINK THAT ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THERE WILL PAY OFF LATER.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GO TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI THIS WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU VOTED ON IT.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THE CHANGE.

I AM A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.

AND IF WE'VE GOT KIDS GETTING THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS WHEN THEY ARE VERY YOUNG THEN MANY CHILDREN MAY NOT END UP NEEDING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

SO IT'S VERY CONCERNING WHEN KIDS MOVE ON TO GRADE TO GRADE TO GRADE WITHOUT BEING READY.

I THINK ALSO WHAT HAPPENS THAT I SEE IS KIDS WHO ARE MORE PRIVILEGED ARE MORE LIKELY TO SPEND ANOTHER YEAR IN PRESCHOOL.

THERE'S PROGRAMS CALLED JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN.

AND KIDS WHO ARE MAYBE MORE AT RISK ARE MORE LIKELY TO REGISTER THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

SO THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FIVE-YEAR-OLD I HAVE A STUDENT RIGHT NOW WHO DOESN'T TURN SIX UNTIL JUNE.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD ALL YEAR OF KINDERGARTEN AND A CHILD WHO IS SIX.

I WILL HAVE TO REFLECT A LITTLE BIT ON THE FIRST GRADE PART WHAT I'M GRATEFUL I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH RETENTION IN THIRD GRADE.

OR FURTHER.

THE RESEARCH REALLY INDICATES THAT THERE IS MORE OF A LIKELIHOOD OF DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.

BUT IF WE GET IT WHEN THE CHILD IS YOUNG AND THERE'S NOT THAT SOCIAL PRESSURE, BECAUSE THEN YOU'VE GOT A PEER GROUP AND MOVING ON WITH THE GROUP OR NOT.

I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD THING.

>> Renee: SENATOR THOMAS?

>> WELL, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS TOO LONG.

I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL BECAUSE I ACTUALLY LIVED THE BILL.

MY WIFE AND I HAD THREE CHILDREN.

MY WIFE AT THAT TIME WHO WAS A KT APPOINTMENT BY THE WAY OUR YOUNGEST CHILD HAD DYSLEXIA.

AND BY THE TIME HE GOT INTO THIRD GRADE HE COULD NOT READ ON GRADE LEVEL WE HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION WHAT TO DO.

WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO KEEP HIS NAME WAS PHILLIP IN SCHOOL ANOTHER YEAR AND I'M PROUD TO SAY HE IS A COLLEGE GRADUATE FROM U.K. AND DOING VERY WELL.

VERY WELL IN WASHINGTON D.C.

WORKING FOR MAYOR LINDA BOWSER.

I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THIS BILL BECAUSE I KNOW IT WORKS.

>> Renee: THERE SEEMS TO BE AGREEMENT.

LOOK HOW THAT WORKS, BIPARTISANSHIP ON FULL DISPLAY.

LET'S SEE IF WE GET THERE ON THIS TOPIC.

MISSED SCHOOL DAYS WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A TOUGH FIRST START OF 2025 WITH THE WINTER STORMS AND THE FLOODING AND SO MANY OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PARTICULARLY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, STEPHEN WEST THEY HAVE USED UP NTI DAYS THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION AND YOUR COMMITTEE KICK TO DO OFF HOUSE BILL 240 THAT HAD A PLAN FOR FORGIVENESS OF SOME OF THOSE DAYS THE COMMISSIONER WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO DO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

IS THAT BILL STILL INTACT AS IT CAME IN?

>> THE BILL IS NOT INTACT BUT IT HAS MOVED FORWARD.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT WORKED REALLY HARD ON THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

WE HAD THE 10NTI DAYS ALREADY.

REALLY AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR FOR THINGS HAPPENING.

WE HAD A SHOOTER DOWN IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY LAUREL COUNTY AREA THAT THERE WERE SCHOOLS DOWN THERE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AT A TIME.

>> Renee: AND THERE IS A SEPARATE BILL THAT ADDRESSES THAT?

>> THERE IS A SEPARATE BILL ON THAT.

BUT THIS BILL 241 WILL HELP TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND WE HAD THE SNOW AND THE ICE AND THEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AS WE WERE CONSIDERING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE FLOODS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HIT.

AND THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS NOW WHERE THERE ARE NO ROADS TO THE SCHOOL.

AND SO THEY ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

I THOUGHT REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT WAS THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.

IT ALLOWS FOR SOME FIVE ADDITIONAL CALAMITY DAYS.

IT IS A MAY RATHER THAN SHALL.

THE COMMISSIONER MAY GRANT THOSE CALAMITY DAYS AFTER THE SCHOOL HAS DONE ITS BEST JOB TO MEET ALL THE USE ALL THE OTHER DAYS AND THINGS IT CAN DO FIRST.

SO IT WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE.

FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO MAY WHO HATE NTI DAYS AND MAY WORRY ABOUT THAT THIS HAS A ONE-YEAR SUNSET.

THIS BILL IS ONLY FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Renee: BUT THERE ARE CHANGES BECAUSE WHEN REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT CAME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, HE SAID I'M AFRAID THE AMENDMENT THAT THE SENATE COMMITTEE ATTACHES IS MAKING A GOOD BILL BAD AND HE WAS GOING TO WORK TO HAVE HIS OWN BILL DEFEATED.

WHAT DID YOU DO TO IT, SIR?

>> WELL, IT WASN'T JUST ME.

OTHERS WERE INVOLVED.

YEAH, TO THAT PART OF SESSION, WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HORSE TRADING SO TO SPEAK.

THIS OCCURS EVERY SESSION.

WHERE YOU IN ORDER FOR ONE PARTY TO GET WHAT THEY WANT YOU START COMBINING TWO BILLS INTO ONE, THREE BILLS INTO ONE THAT SORT OF THING AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

SO JUST TO SET THE STAGE, THE OTHER PART OF 241 EXISTS WAS SENATE BILL 268 A BILL DEALING WITH VIRTUAL SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A UNIQUE THING HAPPENING WITH VIRTUAL SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY.

WE PASSED OPEN ENROLLMENT LEGISLATION WHICH ALLOWED STUDENTS TO VENTURE OUTSIDE THEIR DISTRICTS AND DO OPEN ENROLLMENT.

AND WHAT THAT HAS LED TO THIS IS NOT A PILOT PROJECT.

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED NATURALLY IN THAT SPACE.

A LITTLE SCHOOL CALLED CLOVER PORT OPENED TO BECOME A VIRTUAL SCHOOL.

THEY HAD ENROLLMENT OF 300 STUDENTS AND IN THAT YEAR'S TIME, THEY ADDED 2700 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY'VE HAD SOME ISSUES.

THEY'VE GROWN REALLY, REALLY FAST PART OF THEIR PROBLEM.

AND I'M ALSO CHAIR OF FROM ADMINISTRATIVE REGS COMMITTEE.

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS PREPARED TO SHUT DOWN CLOVER PORT SCHOOL AND INTRODUCE A 10% CAP.

10% OF THE UNDERLYING ENROLLMENT COULD NOT BE VIRTUAL.

AND IT WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN CLOVER PORT.

WE HAD A LENGTHY EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON THE TOPIC.

THESE PARENTS FROM CLOVER PORT SHOWED UP IN A BIG WAY.

TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, 300 PARENTS OR MORE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR SCHOOL.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SENATE MADE THE POLICY DECISION, EDUCATION POLICY DECISION THAT WE WOULD TREAT THIS MAYBE AS MORE OF A PILOT, GIVE IT ANOTHER YEAR TO BREATHE AND SEE WHERE WE COME OUT.

ULTIMATELY, CLOVER PORT CAME TO US WITH LANGUAGE, A COUPLE THINGS THEY SAID WE'LL PUT IN A THREE-YEAR SUNSET IF WE ARE NOT PERFORMING WITHIN THREE YEARS AND THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOTHING, CLOVER PORT GOES AWAY.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THEIR PROVISIONS.

THEY ALSO ADDED A 2% CAP.

SO CLOVER PORT CANNOT CAPTURE MORE THAN 2% OF ANY DISTRICT'S STUDENTS.

IF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOVER PORT IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

IF THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEM TAKING TOO MANY STUDENTS WE'VE INSTITUTED A 2% CAP.

THAT IS IF 241 AS AMENDED WITH COMMITTEE SUB MAKES IT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> Renee: AND TO THE REPORT CARD SHOWING THEY ARE IN THE RED IS THE LOWEST LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOL HOW DO THEY BECOME FORTHFIED IN THEIR PERFORMANCE?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THEY ADMITTED THAT OUR KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCORE ARE NOT PERFORMING AT LEVEL.

BUT THEY MANY OF THE KIDS COMING IN FROM OTHER SCHOOLS WE ARE IN A BAD PLACE COMING IN.

THEY ARE NOT MIRACLE WORKERS.

THEY CAN'T TURN AROUND A KID IN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TIME.

THEY NEED TIME.

AS WE -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN FRANKFORT YOU HAD TO BE THERE.

WE CAN READ NUMBERS ON PAPER AND GO THROUGH BILLS BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE TESTIMONY OF THE PARENTS, THAT'S WHEN YOU IT CLICKS.

AND WHAT WE FOUND IN THAT TESTIMONY IS MANY OF THESE KIDS WERE FLEEING HORRIBLE SITUATIONS.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED THE PROPER SERVICES AT THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE THEY WERE BEING BULLIED ON-LINE MAYBE BULLIED IN GENERAL AT THEIR SCHOOL.

MAYBE THEY HAD CERTAIN IEP'S AND PROBLEMS WHERE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THESE PARENTS WERE PASSIONATE.

AND WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE TEXTS ON MY PHONE SAYING THANK YOU.

THIS WAS MY LAST OUR LAST CHANCE.

SO IT WAS VERY COMPELLING.

AND WE FELT THAT MAYBE THEY DESERVED A SECOND CHANCE.

>> Renee: IS THIS PERSUASIVE ENOUGH TO YOU SENATOR THOMAS?

>> LET ME SAY THIS, RENEE, MY COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI, WAVING, SO BEING A GENTLEMAN THAT I AM I WILL DEFER TO HER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO TO START WITH, VIRTUAL SCHOOLS GENERALLY ACROSS THE NATION HAVE LOW ACHIEVEMENT RATES.

WE KNOW THAT.

IT'S IN THE RESEARCH.

I WANT TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CONTRACT THAT CLOVER PORT HAS WITH A COMPANY CALLED STRIDE K-12.

IT IS A FOR-PROFIT EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER TRADED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.

IN 2024 THE COMPANY HAD 230,000 STUDENTS TO WHOM THEY ARE PROVIDING VIRTUAL EDUCATION AND SALES OF $2 BILLION.

THIS IS NOT A SMALL START UP WHO NEEDS A PILOT PROGRAM TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY.

NOW I HAVE AN MBA I KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE OF A CORPORATION IS TO INCREASE SHAREHOLDER VALUE.

AND THIS SPECIFIC COMPANY IS NOTORIOUS FOR TRYING TO DO THAT WHICH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR THEIR SHAREHOLDERS THROUGH ISSUES WE'VE SEEN IN KENTUCKY SUCH AS INCREASED STUDENT TEACHER RATIOS.

THEIR MAJOR ISSUES ABOUT THAT.

ATTENDANCE ISSUES.

AND LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEIR CONTRACT HOW THEY ARE PAID THIS I FIND THE MOST CONCERNING.

WHETHER OR NOT THE PARENT WANTINGS EDUCATION, THERE ARE 65 VIRTUAL SCHOOLS OFFERED IN KENTUCKY BUT ONE GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.

AND CLOVER PORT RECEIVES ALL THE MONEY SEEK TITLE ONE, SPECIAL ED, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, FACILITIES, CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING THEY GET ALL THAT MONEY AND THEY HAND BACK 3% TO CLOVER PORT OR $250,000.

AND ANY MONEY THEY DON'T SPEND IS WRITTEN IN THEIR CONTRACT IS THEIR PROFIT.

SO MY CONCERN AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES' CONCERN IS THERE NEED TSZ TO BE TRANSPARENCY HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT.

DOES THE SCHOOL NOT HAVE TO DO OUR PROCUREMENT POLICIES WHERE WE HAVE TO GET BIDS FOR ANYTHING?

ALL I'VE SEEN IN THE PAYMENT WORK IS A LINE ITEM THAT SAYS EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING FEES THAT CLOVER PORT PAYS TO STRIVE K-12 AND I FIND THAT CONCERNING.

>> Renee: IS THAT ADDRESSED IN THE AMENDED HOUSE BILL 241 WHERE YOU REQUIRE THAT GREATER ITEMIZATION AND TRANSPARENCY?

>> THAT IS NOT IN THE LEGISLATION.

WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THAT TOPIC, ESPECIALLY IN OUR SENATE CAUCUS ON THIS IS A NEW THING.

THIS IS NEW TO THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

AND SO THAT'S A LARGER QUESTION.

I THINK WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN THE INTERIM HOW DO WE TREAT VIRTUAL SCHOOLS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SEEK FUNDING FORMULA.

CAN WE CLAW BACK FOR SCHOOL FACILITYINGS THINGS THEY DON'T NEED FACILITIES IF THEY HAVE A VIRTUAL PROGRAM.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ONE THING.

I'M CONVEYING WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD.

THE SEEK COMPONENT FOR CLOVER PORT IS ROUGHLY 5 TO 6,000 PER CHILD.

THAT IS THE SEEK COMPONENT.

THESE KIDS MOVING OVER THEY DON'T GET THE LOCAL COMPONENT SO THEY DON'T GET THE VALUE OF LOCAL MATCH OR LOCAL TAX.

I'M BEING TOLD OF THAT 5 TO 6,000, 2600 HAS TO BE SPENT FOR A TEACHER.

AND SO AT LEAST 2600 IS GOING PER TEACHER.

THE MONEY FLOWS MUCH OF IT TO STRIDE TO THE CONTRACTOR, AND THEN WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS ALL THAT MONEY IS GOING TO CLOVER PORT.

SO THE INFORMATION I HAVE IS THEY ARE SPENDING MORE THAN THEY ARE RECEIVING PER STUDENT AT CLOVER PORT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THIS IS A START-UP.

ANYTIME YOU HAVE A START-UP BUSINESS YOU WILL HAVE UP FRONT COSTS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS.

SO STRIDE.

>> Renee: IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT IS A START-UP.

>> THE CONTRACT READS THAT STRIDE K-12 GETS 100% OF THE MONEY AND GIVES BACK 3% AND THAT'S IT.

>> Renee: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT CONNECTING A COMPLICATED BILL TO A BILL THAT MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE COUNTING ON TO GET SOME REPRIEVE FROM THE MISSED SCHOOL DAYS TO THE KIDDOS AREN'T GOING TO SCHOOL IN JUNE.

IS THERE CONSIDERING ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, ANY CONSIDERATION OR SEVERING THE TWO BILLS OR IS IT TOO LATE TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO LATE.

ONE THING I WILL SAY AND I'M JUST SPEAKING AS TO HOW THE COMMITTEE WENT, HOW THE PROCESS WENT WHEN WE PASSED THE BILL, THERE WAS A ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT ON HIS BILL AND HOW A COMMITTEE SUB WAS ADDED.

AND SENATOR GIVENS SPOKE TO REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT AND I'M JUST CONVEYING WHAT WAS SAID IN COMMITTEE, THAT MAYBE THE VOTES WEREN'T THERE OR 241 AS A STAND-ALONE BILL.

SO I KNOW THERE WERE COMPLAINTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A SUBBING OUT A BILL AND TIMES A SUB WILL HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT AND THERE WAS THAT DISCUSSION THAT 241 MAYBE ON ITS OWN WOULDN'T PASS.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS, IN THE SENATE, THERE'S BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION ON NTI IN THE DISLIKE FOR NTI AND KIDS BRINGING HOME PACKETS AND JUST LEARNING 30 MINUTES A DAY AND THAT IS COUNTING AS A FULL SCHOOL DAY.

THERE'S THAT PUSHBACK.

REPRESENTATIVE TRUE SIT A PRINCIPAL.

I THINK HE DOES A GOOD JOB WITH NTI AT HIS SCHOOL.

I'M NOT DISPARAGING WHAT HE HAS DONE.

THAT IS SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WENT INTO THE DECISION.

>> Renee: IF OUR VIEWERS ARE WATCHING OUR COVERAGE THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN SENATOR GIVENS SAY THAT THE VOTES WERE NOT THERE WITH HOUSE BILL 241.

IF THAT WASN'T ATTACHED.

BUT NOW I'M SURE YOU ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT ABOUT ARE YOU ALL ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET IT KILLED NOW IT HAS THIS ADDITIONAL?

>> HERE'S WHAT I THINK AND IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN LET CLOVER PORT GO ON WITH PUTTING MORE GUARDRAILS WITHOUT PUTTING MORE GUARDRAILS THAN WHAT WE HAVE.

THAT IS DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD.

IT IS A NEW PROGRAM.

THEY HAD GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.

BUT I'M NOT A FAN OF VIRTUAL TO START WITH.

I THINK A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM IS BETTER.

I'M NOT A FAN OF NTI.

WE HAD TO HAVE THEM ESPECIALLY WITH OUR EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS.

AND I KNOW DISTRICTS TRY TO USE THOSE SPARINGLY AND THIS IS AN UNUSUAL YEAR.

THE BILL DID NOT GIVE THEM MORE NTI DAYS THE REASON WE NEEDED THAT BILL WE WERE ADDING TIME TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY TO CATCH A LOT OF THEM UP AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO USE NTI DAYS.

THE ISSUE NOW IS THAT WE ARE DRAGGING ALONG SO THAT IS ALMOST GOING TO BE A MOOT POINT TO ADDING THE SCHOOL DAY.

THE K-5 PART OF CLOVER PORT IS WHAT REALLY, I GUESS IS CONCERNING TO ME.

BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO TEACH A KID TO READ.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN DO IT K-1 VIRTUALLY.

UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THEM.

THERE COULD BE SOMEBODY RIGHT THERE THAT IS HELPING AND YOU HAVE 342K-1 KIDS AND ANOTHER ISSUE FOR ME IS THIS YEAR ALONE 482 DROPPED OUT ALREADY.

SO IF THEY ARE DROPPING OUT ARE THEY COMING BACK TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE FURTHER BEHIND?

AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

BUT I JUST THINK THAT I DON'T THINK WE KILL IT ALTOGETHER BUT I DO THINK MAYBE WE PUT MORE GUARDRAILS IN ESPECIALLY THE K-5 PART AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI TALKED ABOUT ABOUT THE CONTRACT ISSUES AND DO GUIDELINES WITH K-5.

SO AND I'M SURE THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING BECAUSE WE NEED THE COUNTER BILL SOONER THAN LATER.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE TWO ISSUES ON ONE BILL.

>> Renee: BY FRIDAY.

>> CAN I SPEAK ON THAT TO RESPOND BRIEFLY TO CHAIRMAN LEWIS.

ED SENATOR COULD CONSTANTLY SAY WE'LL BE BACK IN NINE MONTHS.

AS WE END SESSION WE WILL BE BACK IN SESSION NINE MONTHS FROM NOW.

ACTUALLY BE BACK IN SOONER WE WILL BE BACK IN JUNE.

AND SO THERE IS A COMMITMENT.

THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT VIRTUAL, ADJUST ESPECIALLY THE FUNDING, ADJUST HOW IT WORKS AND KEEP OUR EYE ON THIS SO THERE IS A COMMITMENT IN THE SENATE TO KEEP CLOSE EYE OUT.

>> Renee: SENATOR THOMAS?

>> ONE MINUTE, RENEE.

REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI DID A GOOD JOB TALKING ABOUT STRIDE INCORPORATED.

BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THREE THINGS FOR YOUR VIEWERS.

IN 2012 FLORIDA SANCTIONED STRIDE BECAUSE THEY WERE CERTIFYING TEACHERS TO SIGN CLASSES THAT DID NOT EXIST.

THEY WERE SAYING THE CLASSES DO NOT EXIST BUT YOU MUST SIGN IT.

THEN STRIDE GOES TO CALIFORNIA, AND GETS FINED $160 MILLION FOR LYING ABOUT ENROLLMENT.

THEN, RENEE, THEY GO TO GEORGIA, AND THE SCHOOL SPLITS FROM THEM DUE TO POOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND SCHOOL LEADERS DESCRIBE AS HAVING RECEIVED OVERPAID SERVICES.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMPANY THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THREE STATES IN 10 YEARS, ALL THE STATES SANCTIONED THEM OUT OF THERE FOR LYING, CHEATING AND STEALING.

SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT TO YOUR VIEWERS ABOUT THIS COMPANY.

AND THAT'S BEEN UNREFUTED.

>> Renee: TAKE A TOUGH PIVOT AND GET TO VIEWER QUESTIONS HERE AS OUR TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

AND IT DOES THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH ENGAGING DISCUSSION.

THIS IS FROM MARTIN IN LEXINGTON.

WHY ISN'T THERE MORE FOCUS ON BILLS TO STRENGTHS EN K-12 EDUCATION RELATED TO CIVICS AND NOT JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T THIS MORE IMPORTANT EDUCATING CITIZENS THAN BILLS RELATING TO THE 10 COMMAND MEANTS OR THE U.S.

FLAG IN K-12 CLASSROOMS?

>> I THINK WAS IT LAST YEAR I THINK WE PASSED THAT ON CIVICS AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE A BILL THAT STRENGTHENS CIVICS, SENATE BILL 68.

SO I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE THINGS TO DO THAT.

AND I THINK IT WAS A START LAST YEAR.

BUT CONTINUING THIS YEAR.

>> AND WE ALSO HAVE A BILL ON FINANCIAL LITERACY TO REQUIRE A COURSE ON FINANCIAL LITERACY WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE CIVICS ONE OF THOSE LIFE SKILLS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IN ORDER TO BE A PRODUCTIVE ADULT.

>> I THINK MARTY IS RIGHT.

WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND NOT AS MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT CORE SUBJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE STUDENTS LONG-TERM AND REWARD THEM AS THEY BECOME ADULTS AND MOVE INTO THEIR CAREERS.

>> I WOULD CHIME IN AND AGREE WITH YOUR VIEWER THAT WE DO NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON CIVICS.

WE DO NEED TO FOCUS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY.

REPRESENTATIVE MEREDITH HAS A GOOD BILL I THINK IT'S 342.

SENATOR RECALLINGS AS A PIECE IN 68.

THERE ARE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO MAKE THAT MORE ROBUST.

WHENEVER WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WE ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH HOW MUCH CLASS TIME CAN YOU DEVOTE TO THAT WE'RE ALWAYS KIND OF BUCKING UP AGAINST THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> Renee: AND SENSE HE MENTIONS IT ABOUT THE MOMENTS OF SILENCE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

I KNOW THERE'S ONE BILL SENATE BILL 19 THAT DOES THAT.

WHY IS THAT NECESSARY?

THIS IS A SHALL NOT A MAY?

>> IT IS.

>> Renee: BECAUSE IT EXISTS THAT THEY CAN DO IT AND NOW THEY ARE REQUIRED TO.

>> I THINK THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE BILL.

MORE OR LESS, THE REASON THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND IT HAS PASSED THE SENATE AND IT'S OVER IN THE HOUSE, IS THAT THE PROPONENTS OF THE BILL BROUGHT STUDIES THAT SAY IF YOU PUT THIS IN PLACE IN SCHOOLS, IT HELPS THE KIDS WITH THEIR DAY AND GIVES THEM A BETTER MENTAL FOCUS.

THAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND THE BILL.

WE'LL SEE IF IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> Renee: BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW TEACHERS TO LEAD A PRAYER OF ANY SORT OR RELIGION.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR VIEWERS UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES AND DOES NOT DO.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AGAINST PRAYING BUT WE CAN DO THAT IN SCHOOLS NOW.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SCHOOLS THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT DO PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE EVERYDAY.

THE DISTRICT I'M FROM WE DO THAT EVERY YEAR, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHATEVER.

IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALREADY DO.

AND IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND IT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT NOW.

>> Renee: ARE YOU FOR IT OR AGAINST IT?

>> HERE'S WHAT I DON'T LIKE.

I LIKE PRAYING OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IS THAT SUPERINTENDENT IS COMING OUT AT ME I HATE WHEN THINGS ARE MANDATED ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND FOR YEARS I MEAN, EVERY SESSION THAT I WOULD BE HERE, I WOULD BE WATCHING WHAT THEY ARE DOING HERE COME MORE MANDATES AND I GO DOWN THE HALL FUSSING AND CARRYING ON.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ON WHAT WE MANDATE.

WE ASK SO MUCH OF OUR SCHOOLS NOWADAYS.

FROM RELIGION TO RAISING THEM.

WE RAISE A LOT OF KIDS NOW BASICALLY.

WE REALLY DO.

FROM THE TIME WE GET THEM SOMETIMES WE ARE THEIR NURSES, PARENTS, WHATEVER.

AND AGAIN IT ALARMS ME WHEN WE START MANDATING THINGS.

>> Renee: THE KID AND THE TEACHER IN HER RAISES HER HAND.

>> I'M TRYING TO BE PATIENT.

I'M GRAVELY CONCERNED.

BECAUSE I THINK THE MOMENT OF SILENCE LAWS AND HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION ARE STRATEGIES TO RETURN PRAYER TO OUR SCHOOLS.

EVERYONE ANYONE CAN PRAY DURING THE SCHOOL DAY BUT TO MANDATE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND I WATCHED THE COMMITTEES TODAY.

I WATCHED THE KET BROADCASTS ON THEM.

AND THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO SENATOR WAS NOT AN EDUCATOR HE WAS NOT A RESEARCHER HE WHATS A RABBI.

DON'T TELL ME THERE'S NOT AN INTENT FOR THIS TO BE PRAYER.

WE CAN DO IT ALREADY.

AND I THINK THIS JUST PUTS ANOTHER BURDEN ON TEACHERS.

IN ORDER TO MAKE THE KIDS SIT QUIETLY.

AND I THINK UNLESS WE COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING SERIOUS ABOUT CELLPHONES MAJORITY OF THOSE OLDER KIDS WILL BE LISTENING TO MUSIC DURING THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE.

AND TO ME, I'M STRONGLY AGAINST THE BILL BECAUSE I THINK IT IS AN INTENT TO BRING PRAYER BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS.

>> Renee: SENATOR THOMAS?

>> I VOTED FOR THE BILL.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE BILLS ON THEIR FACE-VALUE.

THAT'S WHAT I DO WHEN I ARGUE FOR OR AGAINST BILLS AS SENATOR WEST KNOWS.

WHAT DOES THE LANGUAGE SAY AND WHAT DOES IT ALLOW OR PROHIBIT AND GO FROM THERE.

THIS BILL MANDATES A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT PRAYER.

AND AS I SAID ON THE FLOOR TO ME THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TALKING ABOUT RELIGION AS I SEE IT A SWORD OR A SHIELD.

USED FOR A SWORD I'M TOTALLY OPPOSED TO ACTIONS.

IF IT'S BEING USED AS A SHIELD TO HELP PEOPLE COPE OR REFLECT OR DO WHATEVER, THEN THEY CAN DO THAT.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

MOST OF THE STUDENTS WILL BE ON THEIR CELLPHONES LISTENING TO MUSIC.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU USE YOUR MOMENT OF SILENCE.

YOU CAN DO YOUR HOMEWORK IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT PRAYER AND HOWEVER THAT IS USED TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND THAT MINUTE OR TWO AND MOVE ON TO THE DAY.

>> IT DOES LIST PRAYER IN THE BILL AS ONE THING THAT STUDENTS COULD BE DOING DURING THAT TIME.

NOT REQUIRED I AGREE.

>> THAT IS NOT PART OF THE CHANGES MADE IN SENATE BILL 19 LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, TINA.

[INAUDIBLE] THE CHANGES THAT MADE SENATE BILL 19, SAY NOTHING ABOUT PRAYER.

>> LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

>> Renee: OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CELLPHONES IN CLASSROOMS HOUSE BILL 383, WOULD FORBID THEM.

WE KNOW THAT KENTUCKY EDITION ON KET WE'VE DONE STORIES WITH BOURBON COUNTY WHO HAD YOU KNOW THIS SUCCESS WITH NOT HAVING CELLPHONES IN CLASSROOMS.

I MEAN FIRST OF ALL, AND I'LL GO TO YOU FIRST.

WHAT IS THE WISDOM OR IRRATIONAL FOR -- >> IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WE DON'T HAVE THE ISSUE.

WE TELL THE KIDS PUT IT IN YOUR BACKPACK AND THEY DO.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IS DIFFERENT THING.

FERN CREEK HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE HAS A POLICY WHERE ALL STUDENTS WHEN THEY COME IN THEY PUT THEIR PHONE IN A POUCH AND THEY KEEP THEIR POUCH WITH THEM ALL DAY.

SHE IS HAVING TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

SHE SAID IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL, STUDENTS CHECKED OUT MORE BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY THAN THEY HAD THE ENTIRE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO IT IS VERY CONCERNING FOR US ALL OF US, CELLPHONES ARE AN ADDICTIVE DEVICE.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN SCHOOL AND YOU ARE LEARNING, I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT PUT AWAY.

IT'S LIKE BE THE PARENT IN THE ROOM.

AND TAKE AWAY THAT DISTRACTS US FROM OUR LEARNING.

>> Renee: THERE WAS CONSIDERATION ABOUT KIDS WHO HAVE MEDICAL DISABILITIES OR COULD BE AN EMERGENCY OF SOME SORT WHERE YOU NEED IT TO HAVE A CELLPHONE.

>> AN ACCOMMODATION OR SPECIAL EDUCATION NEED ANY OF THOSE ARE FINE.

WHAT THE PRINCIPAL FROM FERN CREEK MENTIONED IS IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, IT IS BETTER FOR THE FIRST-RESPONDERS TO KEEP ALL THE CHILDREN SAFE IF THERE AREN'T THOUSANDS OF MESSAGES GOING IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING AT THE SAME TIME.

SO I UNDERSTAND.

PARENTS ARE AFRAID AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT THEIR CHILD IF THERE IS AN ARMED INTRUDER.

I GET IT.

THESE POUCHES THAT FERN CREEK HAS THEY MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS CAN BE CUT APART WITH SURGICAL SCISSORS AND EVERY CLASSROOM HAS THAT IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THINGS CAN BE DONE.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THAT IS A VERY RARE OCCASION.

HOW DETRIMENTAL IS TIME SPENT ON THE CELLPHONES?

WE HAD A MEETING WHERE AN AUTHOR OF THE BOOK THE ANXIOUS GENERATION WAS ON.

AND SINCE WE'VE HAD CELLPHONES PARTICULARLY WITH THE REARVIEW -- THE REVERSE MIRRORS WHERE YOU CAN DO THE SELFIES AND THE LIKES, ANXIETY IN OUR YOUNG GIRLS HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY.

IT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

AND I AGREE WE AS A SCHOOL LEGISLATING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> Renee: YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I WOULD VOTE FOR THAT BILL TOMORROW IF IT CAME TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP THE USE OF CELLPHONES BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT'S WORKING WELL IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

WE OUGHT TO BRING THAT TO KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: FLORIDA AND TENNESSEE.

I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER AND I TOLD HER I WOULD VOTE FOR THE BILL AND SHE SMIRKED AT HER GRANDFATHER WE OUGHT TO HAVE THAT BILL AND I WOULD VOTE FOR IT.

>> Renee: CHAIRMAN WEST?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BIPARTISAN MOMENTS.

I CANNOT AGREE MORE.

IT'S REALLY COMMON SENSE, YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE AT SCHOOL, YOU ARE LITERALLY DISTRACTED FROM YOUR WORK AND FORT YOU ARE DOING.

BUT I WOULD REALLY URGE YOUR VIEWERS IF THEY HAD ANY DOUBT IF THEY COULD GO INTO THE KET ARCHIVES AND REVIEW OUR COMMITTEE HEARING WE HAD IN THE INTERIM, I REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI TALKED ABOUT THE ANXIOUS GENERATION AN INDEPTH BOOK AND STUDY A GENTLEMAN OUT OF NEW YORK GAVE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.

IT IS ASTOUNDING THE DIFFERENCE NOT HAVING A CELLPHONE MAKES AS IT PERTAINS TO MENTAL HEALTH, JUST ADDICTION ITSELF.

MANY OF OUR STUDENTS THEY ARE PHYSICALLY ADDICTED TO THE CELLPHONES.

AND THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY MAYBE TO HELP BREAK THAT ADDICTION A LITTLE BIT.

SUICIDE PREVENTION.

YOU KNOW, A BIG COMPONENT OF TEEN SUICIDES HAS TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR CELLPHONES.

SO MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION, SUICIDE PREVENTION, YOU GET TO THAT BEFORE YOU EASTERN GET TO THE LEARNING LOSS.

AND SO A KEY COMPONENT ALSO WAS TREMENDOUS LEARNING LOSS BY HAVING THEM IN SCHOOL.

I THINK THIS IS A CLEAR MOMENT OF AGREEMENT.

>> Renee: YEAH.

>> SEVERAL DISTRICTS ARE DOING IT WITH GOOD RESULTS.

MY FORMER DISTRICT WHERE I WAS SUPERINTENDENT DID IT TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY WILL SAY THAT THE REASON THEIR TEST SCORES WENT UP AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS.

I THINK IT'S GOOD.

I THINK THERE'S BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR IT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET IT PASSED.

>> Renee: WELL, TIME FLIES.

QUICKLY, WANTED TO TALK ABOUT LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

BUT I REMEMBER AND YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT EDUCATION ROBBY FLETCHER SAID THERE IS A $40 MILLION SHORTFALL.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

AND WHAT CAN YOU DO BEFORE MARCH 28TH?

>> I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S I'M NO LONGER ON THE PREPARATION REVENUE COMMITTEE BUT I KNOW THEY ARE WRESTLING WITH THAT SUBJECT.

I DO KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS ALLOWED $15 MILLION TO FLOW IN THAT HE'S ALLOWED TO USE IN THESE SITUATIONS.

SO I WOULD SUSPECT MAYBE WE'LL DO SOMETHING WE'LL SEE.

BUT THERE ARE POTS OF MONEY THAT CAN BE MOVED AROUND BUT THAT IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATION.

AND I'M NOT SAFE TO SAY HERE TONIGHT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY OF THE $14.MILLION AT THE GOVERNOR FOUND EIGHT MILLION IS GOING TO CLOVER PORT FOR THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL.

>> Renee: OKAY.

WE'LL LEAVE THAT THERE.

ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENT ON THAT?

>> NO.

>> Renee: AND YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT SHOWS AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN 30 DAYS AND ONE WAS ADDRESSING LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 FAILED.

BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AT THIS JUNCTURE.

IS IT TOO LATE FOR THAT?

>> ACTUALLY WE HAD PASSED LEGISLATION THAT DEALS WITH THAT ON THE COMPREHENSIVE.

>> Renee: THE TSI.

>> WE MOVED THAT FROM THREE YEARS TO ONE WHICH IS GOING TO GET LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOLS MORE HELP.

AND WHEN THEY GO INTO DISTRICTS THEIR RECORD IS GOOD.

THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PICK UP 20 MORE SCHOOLS ON THAT LIST.

THINGS LIKE THAT ARE READING BILL, OUR KINDERGARTEN BILL, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS OUR LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOLS, TOO.

>> Renee: I STAND CORRECTED.

ANY OTHER PIECE EDUCATION WISE YOU KNOW IS GOING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THE SCHOOL DAYS HAS TO HAPPEN WHETHER IT'S WITH OR WITHOUT 241?

>> I THINK IT WILL.

JUST TO GO BACK TO CLARIFY ONE THING, 298 PASSED OUT OF SENATE EDUCATION TODAY.

AND WE'VE ALSO PASSED OUT OF SENATE A SCHOOL OF INNOVATION BILL 207.

THAT IS AN EFFORT TO WORK ON LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

>> Renee: WE'LL KEEP FOLLOWING IT AND YOU CAN ON KENTUCKY EDITION EACH WEEKNIGHT WE BREAK THIS DOWN AND "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WILL DO THE SAME FRIDAY AT 8:00 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON KET.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGAIN NEXT MONDAY NIGHT HERE ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.