Contact:
Mara Powell
mpowell@kyyouth.org

Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates

LOUISVILLE, KY – With today’s unanimous passage of House Bill 377 by the Senate Education Committee, Kentucky is one step closer to strengthening the student-teacher pipeline and the future of the K-12 workforce.

In many ways, an investment in our teacher workforce is an investment in the current and future students across our Commonwealth. HB 377, sponsored by Representative Kim Banta, creates a Teacher Recruitment Student Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program and establishes Student-Teacher stipends in eligible programs – two programs with real potential to boost the recruitment and retention of quality and qualified teachers. And those will only become reality with an investment within the final state biennial budget.

We thank Representative Banta for her leadership on this legislation and the Senate Education Committee for passing HB 377 to be on consent as it now heads to the Senate floor.

Stay up-to-date on Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities and other bills that are good for kids on our Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker.

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About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky’s children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at www.kyyouth.org.