Alternative High School Diplomas
Summary
Kentucky Governor signed HB562 on April 3, 2026, establishing an alternate high school diploma and a modified high school diploma. The Kentucky Board of Education must promulgate administrative regulations for these new diploma pathways. The Department of Workforce Development is required to publish a list of employers willing to hire individuals with alternate diplomas.
What changed
HB562 amends Kentucky statutes (KRS 156.160, KRS Chapter 158, KRS 158.140, 164.787, and 164.7882) to create two new diploma types: an alternate high school diploma and a modified high school diploma. The Kentucky Board of Education must promulgate administrative regulations specifying requirements for these diplomas. Additionally, the Department of Workforce Development must identify, compile, and publish a list of employers willing to employ individuals possessing an alternate high school diploma.
Kentucky school districts and the Board of Education should prepare for implementation of new diploma requirements once regulations are promulgated. The Department of Workforce Development should begin developing the employer list process. Schools should review current graduation requirements to understand how alternate and modified diplomas will interface with existing frameworks.
What to do next
- Monitor Kentucky Board of Education regulatory proceedings for alternate and modified diploma requirements
- Review existing graduation pathways for alignment with new diploma types
- Department of Workforce Development should begin developing process to compile employer willingness list
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB562 Signed by Governor HB562 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-03
AN ACT relating to alternative high school diplomas.
Amend KRS 156.160 to require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations for an alternate high school diploma and a modified high school diploma; specify requirements for alternate and modified high school diplomas; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require the Department of Workforce Development to identify, compile, and publish a list of employers willing to employ individuals possessing an alternate high school diploma; amend KRS 158.140, 164.787, and 164.7882 to conform.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb562....
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Sponsors
Timmy Truett (Rep - R) Chris Fugate (Rep - R) Chad Aull (Rep - D) Shane Baker (Rep - R) Ryan Bivens (Rep - R) John Blanton (Rep - R) Tina Bojanowski (Rep - D) Joshua Branscum (Rep - R) George Brown (Rep - D) Beverly Chester-Burton (Rep - D) Myron Dossett (Rep - R) Daniel Fister (Rep - R) Patrick Flannery (Rep - R) Alan Gentry (Rep - D) Deanna Frazier Gordon (Rep - R) Daniel Grossberg (Rep - D) Vanessa Grossl (Rep - R) David Hale (Rep - R) Thomas Huff (Rep - R) Kevin Jackson (Rep - R) William Lawrence (Rep - R) Derek Lewis (Rep - R) Scott Lewis (Rep - R) Shawn McPherson (Rep - R) Kimberly Moser (Rep - R) Michael Pollock (Rep - R) Tom Smith (Rep - R) Billy Wesley (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-03 H signed by Governor 2026-03-31 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-31 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-31 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-31 H passed 95-0 2026-03-31 H House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-27 H posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-19 H to Rules (H) 2026-03-19 H received in House 2026-03-19 S 3rd reading, passed 36-0 with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-18 S passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day 2026-03-17 S passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day 2026-03-16 S posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026 2026-03-13 S 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-03-12 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-11 S to Education (S) 2026-02-18 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-18 S received in Senate 2026-02-17 H 3rd reading, passed 96-0 2026-02-13 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 17 2026 2026-02-12 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-02-11 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-02-10 H to Primary and Secondary Education (H) 2026-02-04 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-02-04 H introduced in House
Votes
2026-02-17 House: Veto Override RCS# 100 Yea: 96 Nay: 0 2026-03-19 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3961 Yea: 36 Nay: 0 2026-03-31 House: Veto Override RCS# 379 Yea: 95 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-04 H Committee On Committees 2026-02-10 H Primary and Secondary Education 2026-02-12 H Rules 2026-02-18 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-11 S Education 2026-03-13 S Rules 2026-03-19 H Rules
Amendments
0000-00-00 Senate Committee Substitute
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled
Subjects
Boards and Commissions Education, Elementary and Secondary Education, Vocational Mental Disability State Agencies Workforce Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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