messenger-inquirer.com · SUBMITTED · September 9, 2026
Legislators receive science education center proposal | News | messenger-inquirer.com
# Legislators receive science education center proposal
- SUBMITTED - Sep 9, 2026 - 20 mins ago - 0
Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, speaks during a recent Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting. Tipton is co-chair of the committee. David Michael Hargis
Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Education recently expressed interest about boosting Kentucky’s science education while hearing a proposal for the creation of the Kentucky Center for Science Education.
Lee Todd, president emeritus of the University of Kentucky, said the commonwealth needs the center to not only help students become successful, but also to provide a quality workforce that’s well versed in science to meet expectations of companies.
“In this state, we have a center for reading. We have a center for math, and we’re making progress in those areas. We’re not making similar progress in science. And we have had experience with getting a grant to come up with really good ideas,” he said.
Todd said grants come and go, and a science center would include a full-time staff dedicated to improving science education. The advocates asked for legislators to consider funding $1 million for the center’s launch and $2 million for recurring operation.
“I’ve been told by the economic development secretary that there are some companies who won’t even let us apply for them to move to Kentucky because we don’t have a STEM-ready workforce,” he said.
Lee said there are five workforce area needs according to the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, and they all depend on people who can investigate, analyze data, communicate the evidence and solve problems. He said the way science can be taught takes you thorough that process.
She said the center would be a place to coach teachers and administrators by offering content-specific guidance on how to lead programs in schools and allow them to expand their skills. The infrastructure already exists for the center to “hit the ground running on day one,” she said.
“What we’re asking is not a one-time workshop. What we’re asking is something that’s going to be sustained over time and allow teachers to get the kind of training and support that they need,” she said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said he supports the proposed science center, but the problem is deeper. He suggested that students should learn about science in interesting ways beginning in the first grade.
“We talk a lot about reading, writing, arithmetic. But traditionally, we’ve never emphasized science,” he said. “Now, in the last decade or so, I have to admit socially, we have focused on STEM and emphasized STEM education. But I was wondering if there is more we can do?”
Committee co-chair, Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said something must be done to improve science education in Kentucky, and he encouraged all legislators to review test score data expected to be released in a few weeks by the Kentucky Department of Education.
“Look up the schools in your districts to see how they’re doing in all areas, but particularly in science proficiency, because I have looked at that data. And we’ve got a lot of schools in the state where the science proficiency is under 10%. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. “And as Dr. Todd mentioned, if we’re going to grow the economy in Kentucky, if we’re going to provide jobs for workforce, we have to have an educated, well-trained workforce."
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