James_May-June_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 74
sanctuary city accountability—
potentially impacting schools
and academic performance
speak well for our emphasis on
our teachers since Kentucky just
passed SB 101 which expels a
student for assaulting a teacher.
Just sayin!)
• HB 1023 (sponsored by Rep.
Chuck Efstration), a comprehensive school safety bill addressing
detection systems, security personnel and protective measures
In the Defeat of the Night
Not all bills make it to the
finish line. Some are voted down,
others stall in committee and
many fail to meet crossover day
deadlines. Then there is Sine Die—
the final day— when the leadership
of both General Assembly chambers determines which bills will be
brought to the floor.
Complicating matters, retiring
legislators are traditionally afforded extended farewell speeches,
often without time limits. As a
result, not all bills scheduled for
consideration are heard— a reality
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• A proposal to standardize student codes of conduct
• A requirement for biannual
parent noti昀椀cation regarding a
child’s reading level
that many would argue is a disservice to the public.
Rather than catalog every bill
that failed, a few noteworthy proposals deserve mention:
• A bill allowing teachers to
transfer schools if assaulted by
a student— aimed at reducing
teacher attrition. (That does not
• The “Every Day Counts Act,”
targeting student absenteeism.
Opposition—particularly regarding provisions that could impact
driver’s licenses— diluted its
momentum, raising concerns
that chronic absenteeism will
remain unaddressed.
Tana Page is co-founder and president of
Educators First, a professional education
nonprofit group, headquartered in Kennesaw. A lifelong educator and a lifelong
Dawgs fan, she may be reached at tana@
educatorsfirst.org.
