CHAPTER 190
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CHAPTER 190
( HCR 81 )
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION directing the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Efficient
and Effective School District Governance Task Force.
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has created a system of public schools that places a high priority on
ensuring that all students achieve at high levels; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that many schools and districts in the Commonwealth have
unacceptable proficiency rates in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and writing; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that many schools and districts are struggling with operational,
managerial, and policy issues that are adversely impacting student academic achievement; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has the responsibility of ensuring that the governance models currently
utilized by the state and local school districts are not impeding student achievement; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that school districts with an enrollment greater than 75,000
students in elementary, middle, and high school face particular operating and management challenges; and
WHEREAS, taxpayers and parents of students expect that local school boards will ensure that any policies
they adopt shall abide by federal and state laws, meet federal and state requirements for finances and operations, and
meet federal and state accountability and assessment provisions for student learning, growth, and improvement; and
WHEREAS, revenues and expenditures of school districts should be aligned to educational programming to
maximize the preparedness of students to succeed in the workforce or in the pursuit of higher education while
minimizing per pupil cost; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly wishes to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations,
management, and policies of Kentucky school districts with student enrollment greater than 75,000; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly seeks expert opinions and research from education-focused institutions
such as the Education Commission of the States, the Southern Regional Education Board, and other organizations
that can provide relevant and pertinent information that pertains to school governance structures and the
infrastructure and supports needed to positively impact student academic achievement;
NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the
Senate concurring therein:
Section 1. The Legislative Research Commission is hereby directed to establish the Efficient and Effective
School District Governance Task Force to:
(1) Review current district governance and administration models of Kentucky's school districts with student
enrollment greater than 75,000 and compare the governance and operational structures to school districts in
other states with similar size and demographic composition;
(2) Review the functionality, duties, structure, independence, effectiveness, and efficiency of local boards of
education and the impact of board decisions on student outcomes, in districts with a student enrollment of
greater than 75,000;
(3) Review publications, reports, and analyses of school governance relating to district size, the efficiency of
districts, and the effects of size on student outcomes, including but not limited to a report from the Office of
Education Accountability on school district governance that was approved in the office's 2024 research
agenda, and previous Kentucky Department of Education management reports;
(4) Hear testimony from entities with experience in research on and expertise in education organizational
structures, policies, and governance;
(5) Hear testimony from parents of former, current, and prospective students attending schools in districts with
enrollment greater than 75,000, and from parents that have chosen not to enroll their students in school
districts with enrollment greater than 75,000, on the strengths and weaknesses of the districts' academic ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2
offerings, educational capabilities, school and district policies, and their decisions to enroll or not enroll their
students in schools within such districts;
(6) Review relevant past performance audits, correction plans, and other analyses of school districts with
enrollment greater than 75,000;
(7) Review how other states have implemented or addressed the benefits and challenges of:
(a) The creation of new school districts and the benefits and challenges of those new districts;
(b) The expansion of the membership of the school board; and
(c) The modification of the selection process of the members of the school board;
(8) Assess the need for alternative governance structures, operations, management, and policy models for districts
with enrollment greater than 75,000;
(9) Explore options for the restructuring or reorganizing of school districts with an enrollment of over 75,000 and
the potential impact on:
(a) Federal, state, and local funding;
(b) School taxes and taxing authority;
(c) District boundaries and student enrollment;
(d) Continuation of student services;
(e) District real property and facilities;
(f) District bonding liability;
(g) District property;
(h) Demographic composition, including racial makeup;
(i) Transportation;
(j) Governance;
(k) Interscholastic athletics;
(l) Student performance and postgraduation readiness;
(m) Assessment and accountability;
(n) Personnel and tenure;
(o) Transition and startup timelines;
(p) Implementation costs;
(q) Compliance with federal law; and
(r) Any other issue;
(10) Evaluate the short-term and long-term impacts of any potential governance, operation, or management changes
of school districts with an enrollment greater than 75,000; and
(11) Develop and submit any recommendations and changes the task force may adopt relating to the governance
and administration of school districts with enrollment greater than 75,000 and how to better ensure the
efficient and effective organization of the Commonwealth's school districts to the Legislative Research
Commission by December 1, 2024.
Section 2. The Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force shall be composed of the
following members, with final membership of the task force being subject to the consideration and approval of the
Legislative Research Commission:
(1) Two members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom
shall be designated to serve as co-chair;
(2) Two members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated to
serve as co-chair; CHAPTER 190
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(3) One member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the House;
(4) One member of the Senate to be appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the Senate;
(5) The State Auditor or designee;
(6) The mayor or designee from the largest city located within districts with a student enrollment greater than
75,000; and
(7) To be appointed by the Legislative Research Commission to ensure broad political and geographical
representation within any school district with an enrollment greater than 75,000 and ensure that such
appointments reflect the racial minority and gender composition of the school districts based upon the most
recent data from the United States Census Bureau:
(a) Two members who are taxpayers living in a school district with an enrollment greater than 75,000, who
are not current employees of the school district, have competency and experience or knowledge in the
field of education, and have children that are currently attending or recently graduated within the past
five years from the school district;
(b) One member with experience in the finance, management, and operations of large businesses that
operate in the Commonwealth;
(c) One member who is a certified teacher currently employed as a classroom teacher in a school district
with enrollment greater than 75,000 who has at least five years of experience working in the district;
and
(d) One member from a list of three nominees that are recommended by the superintendents of school
districts with student enrollment of 75,000 who is a principal.
Section 3. The Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force shall meet at least twice per
month. The Legislative Research Commission shall assign staff from the Commission or the Office of Education
Accountability as necessary to assist the task force to conduct its business. The Commission may also enter into
contracts with consultants to assist the task force in its duties.
Section 4. Provisions of this Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the Legislative Research
Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the issues identified herein to an interim joint committee
or subcommittee thereof, and to designate a study completion date.
Veto Overridden April 12, 2024.