2024 Regular Session - Day 46 - HB 825, Rep. James Tipton

it is my belief that we as members of the Kentucky General Assembly have a responsibility and obligation to the constituents who we represent in our districts and the citizens all across the Commonwealth of Kentucky to review and provide oversight of Kentucky state agencies and that's what house bill 825 is about it would direct the office of auditor of Public Accounts to conduct a special examination of the Kentucky Department of Education which would include the Kentucky School for the Blind the Kentucky school for the deaf and the department operated area Technology Centers and shall assess the extent to which the department complies with statutory mandates and requirements the purpose of this would to be to evaluate kde's operational effectiveness relating to the efficient management control and operation of the schools departments projects and initiatives under its Juris under its jurisdiction including identification of those departments projects and initiatives that do not serve to improve the educational outcomes of the Commonwealth students it will also identify an any area of operation demonstrating a significant lack of efficiency and Effectiveness uh the future of our state is in our education system Kentucky Department of Education overseas and works with all 171 school districts uh we they are audited financially but this is a programm review a special examination to make sure that they are doing the job that we int we ask them to do for laws and statutes it's my hope that this special examination will highlight the programs and operations that KDE is doing well but also it's my hope and intent that if there are areas that need to be improved that it will be highlighted as well I think this is an ideal time to present this legislation as the kbe Kentucky Board of Education board will soon be not selecting a new commissioner of Education I believe excuse me excuse me sir jent Wayne Got Me All Shook Up Mr Speaker like I said I believe this would be an ideal time to do this with a new Commission coming on to have a work product Mr Speaker if no questions I move for adoption House Bill 825