AN ACT relating to public school academies.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 160 to describe the intent of the General Assembly and the purposes of authorizing public school academies; define terms; outline the requirements and limitations on the establishment of public school academies including which agencies may sponsor an academy; describe a sponsor’s roles and responsibilities; describe exemptions from law and required compliance areas for public school academies; describe the application, approval, and renewal processes; describe application process for existing schools to convert to public school academies; create new sections of KRS Chapter 156 to list the Kentucky Department of Education’s and the Kentucky Board of Education’s roles and responsibilities relating to public school academies; require the Kentucky Board of Education to establish a Kentucky Public School Academy Commission for reviewing and approving public school academy applications; identify the academy commission membership, members’ terms of office, and payment for members’ services; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157 to direct how state, local, and federal funds shall be used to support public school academies; amend KRS 157.370 to allow a public school academy to receive transportation funds; create a new section of KRS 160 to provide that professional negotiated contracts cannot override provisions for public school academies; amend KRS 156.704, 156.255, 156.265, and 156.480 to conform.