New Kentucky Education Laws & Graduation Requirements Parents Might Not Know About

As a parent, keeping up with changes in Kentucky’s education laws can feel like a full-time job. Every year, new legislation quietly goes into effect — and sometimes, these changes directly impact your child’s education, graduation pathway, and rights under special education law. Here’s a breakdown of six important new or lesser-known Kentucky education rules and graduation requirements that every parent (especially those navigating ARC/IEP meetings) should be aware of.

1. New Civics & Financial Literacy Graduation Requirements

Starting with the freshman class of 2025–26, students will be required to:- Earn ½ credit in civics or pass a civics test.- Complete a full credit in financial literacy before graduation. Who’s affected? Only students entering 9th grade in 2025 or later. Students already in high school are not held to these requirements. Reference: Kentucky Graduation Requirements – KDE: https://www.education.ky.gov/curriculum/hsgradreq/Documents/New_Graduation_Requirements.pdf

2. Cursive Writing Is Back

Senate Bill 167 (2025) now requires Kentucky schools to teach cursive writing in elementary grades.- Students must demonstrate proficiency by 5th grade. For special education students, ARC teams will determine how cursive instruction is adapted based on IEP goals.

Reference: WLKY – New School Laws: https://www.wlky.com/article/kentucky-schools-new-rules-laws/65616346

3. New Communication Rules for School Staff

Under Senate Bill 181, all communication between school staff and students must now be traceable and approved by the district.- No personal texting, social media messaging, or unapproved calls.- Exceptions: designated family members or approved emergencies. This impacts how teachers, coaches, and even related service providers can contact your child.

Reference: WKMS – Traceable Communication Law: https://www.wkms.org/education/2025-07-10/educators-want-new-kentucky-law-mandating-traceable-communications-to-be-reined-in

4. Daily Moment of Silence

Senate Bill 19 requires all public schools to start the day with a 1–2 minute moment of silence.- Students must remain seated and quiet.- Parents can also opt their child into weekly off-campus “moral instruction” programs, but providers must pass background checks.

Reference: WLKY – New School Laws: https://www.wlky.com/article/kentucky-schools-new-rules-laws/65616346

5. Kindergarten Literacy Retention

Starting in 2025–26, any student who fails the universal kindergarten reading screener will be required to repeat kindergarten.- For students with disabilities, ARC teams will determine how retention decisions align with IEP goals and progress monitoring.

Reference: Prichard Committee: https://prichardcommittee.org/2025-legislative-action-toolkit/

6. Off-Campus “Moral Instruction” Option

Also under Senate Bill 19, schools must allow students to leave campus once a week for moral or religious instruction with:- Parental consent- Transportation provided by the parent- Instruction provided by a background-checked organization

Why This Matters for Special Education Parents

Many of these changes — especially graduation requirements and literacy retention rules — have direct implications for ARC/IEP planning. Parents should:- Bring these laws into ARC discussions if they affect your child’s graduation pathway or instructional needs.- Request written explanations from the district if unsure how a new rule applies to your child.- Document everything in your IEP binder to ensure changes are tracked.

Need Help Navigating These Changes? I attend ARC/IEP meetings, review educational records, and create custom advocacy plans for families.

If you need support making sure your child’s rights and options are protected, contact me at: www.mpattonadvocacy.com or email mpattonadvocate@gmail.com.