FRANKFORT, Ky. — On Thursday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear took steps to address a recent funding gap in the state’s primary financial resource for K-12 education, aiming to preempt potential budget cuts for local school districts during the academic year.
In a well-received announcement, the Democratic governor revealed that he has allocated an additional $14.7 million in SEEK funding—Support Education Excellence in Kentucky—for the 171 public school districts across the state. This allocation is intended to bridge the gap in certain areas of the SEEK funding formula that are mandated by law to be received by districts.
During his weekly press conference, Beshear expressed his commitment to not allowing schools to face significant reductions in funding unexpectedly during the school year. “It’s not right for our schools to face tough cuts in the middle of a school year,” he stated.
Additionally, State Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher commended the governor’s funding decision, calling it a “significant development for our public schools and cannot be overstated.” Fletcher emphasized the collaborative nature of these efforts, stating, “This action demonstrates what can be achieved for public schools and our students through collaborative efforts.”
The SEEK program encompasses a base funding allocation on a per-student basis, along with extra funding designated for transportation and special education needs.
This funding boost followed warnings from education leaders to a legislative committee that school districts would have to make budgetary adjustments due to the identified shortfall in state funds. According to the governor, the budget bill approved by the legislature in the previous year allowed for the state education commissioner to request increased funding when actual expenses exceed initial forecasts, which in turn permits the governor to authorize those funds.
Beshear highlighted, “We do have the funds to get this done, and thus I’ve approved that $14.7 million increase for our schools. It won’t have any negative impacts on any other areas of the budget.”
On the other hand, members of the Republican party have pointed to the substantial funding allocated for education in the current budget, claiming their estimates relied on data provided by the state education department.
State House Speaker David Osborne raised concerns on Thursday regarding Beshear’s decision, questioning the governor’s authority to allocate funds. “The governor does not have the ability to appropriate money,” said Osborne, a Republican. He noted that he had not yet reviewed the details of Beshear’s action and could not recall any provisions in the budget that would grant the governor such powers. He added that discussions are ongoing among lawmakers about potentially revisiting the current budget to address SEEK funding.
Furthermore, state education officials informed legislators this week that there exists an additional $26 million shortfall for district funding that is contingent on available resources. Education department representatives are currently collaborating with lawmakers to explore possible state funding, keeping in mind the availability of resources, as Fletcher noted during Thursday’s announcements.
