Kentucky Bill HB 572 expands preschool education access for four-year-olds and requires expansion plans by 2027

Original title: AN ACT relating to preschool education programs.

Last action · February 12, 2026: to Primary and Secondary Education (H)Sponsors: Tina Bojanowski and 19 others

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 572 requires local school districts to submit preschool expansion plans to the Kentucky Department of Education by March 1, 2027, and establishes a phased framework to expand half-day preschool education to all four-year-old children. The bill sets eligibility definitions, mandates a statewide unified data system for program providers, and requires districts to coordinate with Head Start programs.

Why it matters

Local school districts must prepare formal expansion plans and comply with new coordination and data-reporting mandates, while families gain broader access to state-supported preschool programs depending on household income thresholds and available funding.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

local school districts

Local school districts must prepare expansion plans, comply with Head Start coordination mandates, and submit annual program data to the state.

Directly affected

preschool education program providers

Providers are required to collect and submit annual enrollment, quality, workforce, and student success data to a statewide unified data system.

Key Facts

Local school districts must prepare and submit a preschool expansion plan to the Kentucky Department of Education by March 1, 2027.
The Kentucky Department of Education must promulgate administrative regulations by December 1, 2026, establishing procedures for district expansion plans, teaming partner contracts, and fund applications.
The Kentucky Department of Education must establish and maintain a statewide unified data system for all preschool education program providers.
Preschool providers must collect and submit annual data regarding enrollment, quality, workforce, and student success to the department.

Show all 8 facts

By November 1 of each year, the department must publish collected preschool data to a designated public website.
By December 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the department must submit a report on preschool expansion to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Education.
If a local school district fails to comply with Head Start full utilization requirements, the commissioner of education shall withhold preschool funding equivalent to the number of eligible children who could have been served.
A child at risk is defined as a child who resides in a household with an income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for local school districts to submit their preschool expansion plans?

Local school districts must prepare and submit a preschool expansion plan to the Kentucky Department of Education by March 1, 2027.

How is an 'at risk' child defined for preschool education programs under this bill?

An 'at risk' child is defined as a child who resides in a household with an income at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level.

What happens if a school district fails to comply with Head Start coordination requirements?

The commissioner of education shall withhold preschool funding for an amount equal to the number of Head Start-eligible children served in the district who would have been eligible to be served by Head Start.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 12, 2026HouseCommittee
to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
Feb 5, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

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