WASHINGTON, D.C. – Until Tuesday, Kentucky was one of only seven states that do not allow charter public schools. By enacting HB 520, the Bluegrass state will now allow these tuition-free public schools to open and begin providing students and their families with additional no-cost, high-quality school options.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released the following statement from its president and CEO, Nina Rees upon Governor Bevins signing of the bill:
“Tuesday’s signing is historic for Kentucky and for the charter public school movement. Most importantly, Kentucky students will now have the opportunity to benefit from high-quality charter schools, an option long overdue.
“Kentuckys new charter school law is based on best practices found in the National Alliances model law and draws upon decades of charter school practice from other states. We thank Governor Bevin, Representative John Bam Carney, Senator David Givens, Senator Mike Wilson and Senator Max Wise for their leadership. We also appreciate the many other lawmakers who have supported this bill.
“We look forward to helping the Bluegrass state implement this important law to ensure the highest-quality schools are opened and available to students and families who need them most.
“We also thank our coalition of charter public school supporters who were critical to this success, including the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity Kentucky, the Kentucky Pastors in Action Coalition, Greater Louisville Inc., the Foundation for Excellence in Education, the Campaign for School Equity, and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.”
About the National Alliance
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector.
