Should homeschool students in Kentucky have the same scholarship opportunities as public school students?

A Somerset Republican says yes, and he's proposing a bill to make changes to the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, or Keys Program for short.

Our Emily Sisk has the details as we begin tonight's legislative update.

It is an opportunity to, to level the playing field for the high achieving homeschool homeschooling students in the state.

House Bill 298 looks to change the eligibility of keys money or the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship.

This money is awarded to high school students based on their grades and college entrance exam scores.

The scholarships can be used at Kentucky universities, a homeschooling mother spoke to the House Postsecondary Education Committee today, advocating for homeschool students to have more keys, money, opportunities, current.

Opportunities for homeschoolers to receive keys money is through the Act supplement only.

Which is which we are obviously grateful for.

Whereas students who attend a certified high school in the state of Kentucky have the opportunity to receive money based on their GPA.

Right now, homeschool students can earn a maximum of $500 a year for college based on their college entrance exam, while other high school students can earn up to $2,500 a year.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Representative Shayne Baker, said with HB 298, homeschool students could receive more money based on their grades in dual credit or Advanced Placement courses.

That way, you can measure, the students, abilities to see what their qualifications should be.

HB 298 received nothing but support during the committee meeting with a Northern Kentucky representative and former principal saying the bill was long overdue.

You're not going to use Key's money unless the home school or the school that the child is coming through has done their job and can make it in the school.

So I'm really not worried about this money.

It's kind of the same for a high school student who, you know, maybe doesn't have the highest GPA, but gets a few keys dollars and starts college.

Representative Baker said at full implementation.

House Bill 298 would cost $3.9 million annually.

Key's money is primarily funded by the Kentucky Lottery.

The Somerset Republican said the dollars are a worthwhile investment to keep high achieving homeschoolers in the state.

We don't ask people, where did you graduate?

How are you educated?

We know that they're there.

They're confident and they do the job, and we're grateful for it.

And that that's all we want to do is make sure that we support these students and help them to reach higher for themselves, their family and their communities.

HB 298 was not up for a vote during today's committee meeting, but House Postsecondary Education Chair James Tipton said he plans to bring the legislation back for a vote soon.

For Kentucky, Edition, I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you.

And the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship Program, or keys distributed more than $113 million to students across the state in 2024.