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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky Establishes Alternate High School Diplomas and Expands Scholarship Eligibility for Students with Disabilities
Last action · April 3, 2026: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 15)Sponsors: Timmy Truett and 27 others
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What This Bill Does
Kentucky HB 562 establishes new standards for alternate and modified high school diplomas for students with disabilities beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, creates an employment outreach registry through the Department of Workforce Development, and expands student scholarship eligibility under the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program and Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship. The measure was signed into law by the Governor on April 3, 2026.
Students with intellectual disabilities and specialized education programs gain expanded eligibility pathways for state-funded workforce scholarships and postsecondary financial assistance, while the Department of Workforce Development must actively connect these alternate diploma holders with employers.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Students with disabilities
Students with disabilities gain structured alternate and modified diploma paths alongside expanded access to state workforce scholarships and postsecondary educational funding.
Department of Workforce Development
The department is mandated to conduct employer outreach, manage an employer registry, and publish a statewide list of employment opportunities organized by county.
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
The authority must administer scholarship eligibility expansions, manage the Work Ready trust fund, and submit annual program data reports.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the new alternate high school diploma requirements take effect?
What agency is responsible for maintaining a list of employers for alternate diploma graduates?
Are students with alternate diplomas eligible for workforce scholarships?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
17 actions- Apr 3, 2026HouseEnrolledsigned by Governor (Acts Ch. 15)
- Mar 31, 2026HouseEnrolledHouse concurred in Committee Substitute (1) passed 95-0 enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
- Mar 27, 2026Senateposted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)
- Mar 19, 2026HouseFloor3rd reading, passed 36-0 with Committee Substitute (1) received in House to Rules (H)
- Mar 18, 2026Housepassed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
- Mar 17, 2026Housepassed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
Show 11 earlier actions
- Mar 16, 2026Houseposted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026
- Mar 13, 2026HouseFloor2nd reading, to Rules
- Mar 12, 2026Housereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- Mar 11, 2026SenateCommitteeto Education (S)
- Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroducedreceived in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
- Feb 17, 2026HouseFloor3rd reading, passed 96-0
- Feb 13, 2026Houseposted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 17 2026
- Feb 12, 2026HouseFloor2nd reading, to Rules
- Feb 11, 2026Housereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeto Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 23 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Formalization of Alternate Diplomas and Targeted Workforce Integration
The legislation connects special education graduation pathways directly to state workforce placement registries and scholarship funding streams.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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