wkyt.com · Phil Pendleton · September 8, 2026
Kentucky Education Fund scholarship program moves forward
# Kentucky Education Fund scholarship program moves forward
By Phil Pendleton
Published: Sep. 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM EDT| Updated: 32 minutes ago
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - A scholarship program created under House Bill 1, a priority bill in this year’s legislature, has taken a key step forward.
House Bill 1 sets up scholarships for schools and individuals and federal tax credits for those who donate. Kentucky’s legislature voted to opt into the program this year.
Starting January 1, people can begin donating to the Kentucky Education Fund, a Scholarship Granting Organization. Money is made available for expenses ranging from tuition to school supplies. Donors receive up to $1,700 in tax credits.
“To assist the schools across the commonwealth, that might need a trusted partner, with this opportunity as it comes about,” said Will Hodges, of the Kentucky Education Fund.
## Supporters and opponents
“So it really comes down to the question, do individuals and communities want to donate to their local school or send federal tax dollars to Washington, D.C.?” Hodges said.
Organizations like the Kentucky Education Fund will use qualifying contributions for eligible K-12 expenses. Supporters say the program is for both public and private schools.
Opponents fear the program is a back door way to fund private schools with public money.
“If we fund our public schools we would not have to ask for donations. We are already paying our taxes for that,” said Laura Hartke, of Ky 120 United AFT.
Hodges said donors choose where the money goes, to public or private schools, for a variety of purposes.
“We are still waiting for federal guidance, at the end of this month, but at the high school level we feel like at this time that will help students as they take dual credit courses,” Hodges said.
“We have voted this down, year after year, constitutional amendments. Nobody really wants this,” Hartke said.
People can start donating next year, then begin claiming tax credits in 2028.
When vetoing House Bill 1, Gov. Andy Beshear said he was standing with the people of the state and that public dollars should not go to private schools.
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