STATE OF EDUCATION FUNDING
Kentucky
Strong schools build strong communities, and that starts with fair and transparent funding. Our State Ratings Rubric shows how Kentucky is doing when it comes to making sure every student gets the resources they need to thrive. Using criteria grounded in research, best practices, and what we know works for students, we rate Kentucky across five key areas: whether the state funds students adequately, funds student needs equitably, funds districts appropriately, funds students transparently and effectively, and keeps public dollars in public schools.
To explore ratings across Southern states and learn more about the criteria we use, click here.
State Ratings Rubric:
Hover over ratings for more information.
Last updated: May 2026
| Component | Description | Rating | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUND STUDENTS ADEQUATELY | |||
| Funding Adequacy | Per-student funding is at or above the national average ($17,853 for the 2022-23 school year). | Per-student funding was $795 less than the national average in the 2022-23 school year. | |
| Yearly Increases | Base funding for all students increases every year to account for inflation. | The per-student base amount increased by 0.9% for the 2026-27 school year, from $4,586 to $4,626. | |
| Progressive Tax Policies | The state maintains healthy revenue sources for schools. | Implemented 2025 legislation to reduce income taxes from 4% to 3.5%. | |
| FUND STUDENT NEEDS EQUITABLY | |||
| Student-Based Formula | The funding formula is primarily student-based. | Primarily student-based formula. | |
| Students from Low-Income Backgrounds | The state provides additional funds for students from low-income backgrounds. | 15% weight. | |
| English Learners | The state provides additional funds for English Learners. | 9.6% weight. | |
| Students with Disabilities | The state provides additional funds for students with disabilities, based on their needs. | Three different weights based on the type of disability, ranging from 24% to 235%. | |
| FUND DISTRICTS APPROPRIATELY | |||
| Cost Sharing | The state requires local governments to share the cost based on their ability to pay. | When local governments contribute more than the required amount, the state provides a greater share to districts with less property wealth. | |
| Local Revenue Cap | The state limits wealthy districts from contributing excessively more than other districts. | The state sets a cap that voters can override. | |
| Rural Districts | Small districts and districts with few students per square mile (“sparse districts”) receive additional funds. | Additional funding for sparse districts for transportation. | |
| Concentrated Poverty | Districts with high concentrations of poverty receive additional funds. | No additional funding. | |
| FUND STUDENTS TRANSPARENTLY & EFFECTIVELY | |||
| Formula Transparency | The funding formula is easy to understand and clearly explained. | The formula is easy to understand, and the state education department's executive summary clearly explains it. | |
| Funding Data | The state shares detailed, timely, and user-friendly public data on districts’ funding. | Data is detailed and timely, but not accessible. | |
| District Spending Plans | The state requires districts to share public reports about how they invest funds to meet students' needs. | No requirement. | |
| Formula Review | The state requires a clear, stakeholder-led process to evaluate the formula and recommend improvements. | No required review process. | |
| FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS EXCLUSIVELY | |||
| Vouchers | The state does not divert public funds to private schools through voucher programs, education savings accounts, or scholarship tax credits. | The state constitution prohibits voucher programs. | |
Who’s Who
in Kentucky
Legislature
The Kentucky General Assembly is Kentucky’s state legislature. The bicameral body has a House of Representatives with 100 members and a State Senate with 38 members. Both the House and the Senate have standing Education Policy committees that hear all related education legislation. The Appropriations and Revenue committees in each house also have standing education subcommittees.
State Superintendent of Education
The Kentucky Commissioner of Education is appointed by the 15-member Kentucky Board of Education. The Commissioner reports to the Board of Education and leads the Kentucky Department of Education which oversees the state’s PK-12 schools.
State Board of Education
The Kentucky Board of Education has 15 members. The governor appoints 11 voting members, seven representing the Supreme Court districts and four representing the state at large. The additional members, the President of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), the Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, a high school student, and active elementary or secondary school teacher, serve as non-voting members.
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