SB 152: School Advisory Councils

SB 152 would replace local School-Based Decision Making councils—which are elected bodies of parents, teachers, principals, and, in some cases, students—with “advisory councils” that report to the school principal. This bill shifts power from parents, teachers, and students to principals, who would have sole decision-making authority over setting school policy.

1. How does this legislation impact the wellbeing of Kentucky’s 660,000 public school students? 

This legislation strips power from a democratically elected body—following a trend of Senate bills that have attacked the structures of school boards and school administrations. School-Based Decision Making councils (SBDMs) directly affect Kentucky’s 660,000 public school students—as their membership consists of stakeholders that often have the closest relationships with students. SBDMs were established to promote shared leadership among parents, teachers, and school administrators. School councils are responsible for setting school policy and making decisions outlined in statute, with the ultimate goal to provide an environment to enhance student achievement. 

This bill fundamentally alters this structure and the power dynamic among the parents, teachers, and school administrators. SB 152 transfers duties of school-based decision making councils to principals and “advisory councils”, which make policy recommendations to their respective principals. With the loss of official decision-making abilities from parents and teachers, school districts cannot possibly know an environment that is actually conducive to their students. 

SB 152 also removes the provision for districts to adopt alternate membership, which effectively ends the ability for students to serve on SBDMs. 

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2. Is this legislation in-line with the 7 capacities of a constitutionally adequate education as defined by the Kentucky Constitution? 

School-Based Decision Making bodies (SBDMs) were originally outlined in the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). These councils decentralize school decision-making power and make processes like hiring new teachers and administrators more community-informed. SBDMs are non-partisan bodies whose authority hinges on their ability to not just advise, but exert their authority over the decision-making process, a key aspect of the 1989 reforms and KERA. This bill would strip these councils of their decision-making power and invalidate their very basis for existence, creating accountability for students (who wouldn’t be allowed to serve on the so-called “advisory councils”) and parents in school districts across KY.

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3. What is the broader impact of this legislation on Kentucky public schools, including on educators, parents, and other education stakeholders? 

SB 152 should be understood in the context of the various other bills filed during the 2026 legislative session targeting school governance bodies, namely SB 114. School-based decision-making councils are the most local form of involvement for parents, educators, and school employees. 

SBDMs are an important check that educators have on principals, giving them an official and authoritative platform to voice their perspective on school policies. According to the Southern Region Education Board, ineffective school leadership - principals- was the number one reason for educators leaving the profession. Removing educators' direct-line of communication and accountability with school principals does nothing to address this problem. 

This bill is another effort to increase state control over districts, mandating that districts alter their pre-existing and effective models of school governance for no apparent reason. Parents, educators, and community members alike will suffer from SB 152.