Tuesday October 14, 2025
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Gov. Matt Bevin, joined by legislators, education officials and community leaders, ceremonially signed House Bill 520 in the State Capitol Rotunda. Enacted during the regular session of the 2017 General Assembly, HB 520 enables the creation of public charter schools for the first time in the Commonwealth.
“We owe it to the generations yet to come to provide them with an equal opportunity for a quality education,” said Gov. Bevin. “I’m grateful to the men and women who are working to educate our young people; and the best and brightest among them are begging for some change to a bureaucratic system. We simply want to give choices to parents and to students — to give every child an opportunity. That’s what this bill is about.”
The legislation makes Kentucky the 44th state in the nation with charter schools, which are tuition-free, open enrollment public schools. While the Commonwealth’s charter schools will be granted greater flexibility and autonomy than traditional public schools, they will also experience greater performance accountability than traditional public schools.
“Charter schools in Kentucky mean more education opportunities for our youth who happen to live in low-performing districts,” said Rep. Bam Carney, the chief sponsor of the charter school bill. “Every single student deserves the best shot at a quality education that will prepare them for a lifetime, and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to support this important measure. Kentucky’s students are bright, and with an education to match, the entire Commonwealth’s future will shine.”
HB 520 outlines how charter schools — termed achievement academies — are to be authorized: by local boards of education or by the mayors of Louisville and Lexington. If a charter school application is denied, it can then go through an appeals process with the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE).
Since the bill was passed in March, regulations have been promulgated on student applications, charter applications, appeals to the authorizer accountability, the process for converting existing public schools into public charter schools, and appeals to KBE.
“Across the country, specialized forms of education are accelerating learning for children who are often the hardest to reach in a traditional school framework,” said Hal Heiner, Secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. “I applaud Kentucky’s legislature for passing House Bill 520, a monumental step in providing parents a different, innovative choice in public education for the specific learning needs of their child.”
According to HB 520, public charter schools are required to participate in the state assessment and accountability system, and required to meet the academic performance standards agreed upon in their charters. Charter schools that fail to meet of make significant progress toward meeting those standards would be closed by their board authorizers.
Kentucky’s public and independent colleges and universities conferred a record 70,146 degrees and credentials during the 2016-17 year, up 6.6 percent from the previous year and a 34.8 percent gain from 10 years ago.
“It is exciting to see the quantity of high-quality degrees and certificates conferred by Kentucky colleges and universities in 2016-17. Campuses are working hard to improve student success, and these results are reflective of those efforts,” said Council President Bob King.
The report shows one-year increases for career-oriented certificates and degrees at the associate, bachelor, master and doctoral levels.
The gains help move Kentucky forward as the state builds a more highly educated workforce. The state’s attainment goal is 60 percent of the working-age population with a postsecondary credential or degree by 2030. The percentage in 2015 was 45 percent in Kentucky, compared to a national average of 53 percent.
STEM-H (science, technology, engineering, math and health) credentials increased 7 percent from the previous year. STEM-H credentials accounted for more than a third of all credentials awarded in Kentucky.
Highlights
- Undergraduate credentials at the certificate and associate degree level grew 7.4 percent over last year, from 54,925 to 59,009 awards.
- Short-term certificates (less than one year) are on the rise, up 6 percent from 19,655 to 20,838 awards. Information technology, mechanic and repair technologies, construction trades and business services saw the most growth. Underrepresented minorities earning these certificates grew by 6.1 percent, up from 2,113 to 2,242.
- Total certificates are up 15.7 percent from the prior year to 22,759.
- Associate degrees climbed 1.9 percent, up from 10,665 to 10,867.
- Bachelor’s degrees posted steady growth at 1.7 percent, increasing from 22,799 to 23,189.
- Underrepresented minorities earned 2,920 bachelor’s degrees, an increase of 7.8 percent.
- Graduate certificates and degrees increased from 10,904 to 11,137, a 2.1 percent gain.
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes on Monday said the statewide food drive she announced last month has begun.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl food drive is a friendly competition between Kentucky’s 15 area development districts in support of the Kentucky Association of Food Banks with a goal to raise 400,000 pounds of food or $50,000 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the state legislation that created the Area Development Districts.
“More than 700,000 Kentuckians don’t always know where they’ll get their next meal,” said Grimes. “That’s a stunning and heartbreaking number. We have to do everything we can to make sure no citizen of this Commonwealth faces hunger.”
Kentuckians can donate through Oct. 27. Donations and monetary contributions are being accepted by each area development district, and they will remain in the communities where they are given. $1 is equivalent to 8 pounds of food. Anyone can contribute at HelpFeedKY.com.
Grimes made visits to several area development districts over the last few weeks to discuss the vital need for hunger relief in Kentucky. She has been a champion for solving Kentucky’s hunger issues since she took office in 2012 and before she was elected to public office. As Secretary of State, Grimes was a vocal advocate for Farms to Food Banks, a law giving tax credits to farmers who donate to food banks. She is a longtime volunteer at the Salvation Army, serving the Thanksgiving meal at her local service center every year. She also has served on the board of God’s Pantry Food Bank in Lexington.
More information on the Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl is at HelpFeedKY.com.
Gov. Matt Bevin today announced the community of Paintsville as the winner of the 2017 “Beautify the Bluegrass” competition — a statewide initiative calling on Kentuckians to come together to make their hometowns shine.
The Paintsville/Johnson County Trail Town Committee rallied local volunteers to repaint city hall and five other downtown buildings, refurbish Paint Creek Park, and manicure/landscape public flowerbeds and abandoned properties.
Congratulations to the citizens of Paintsville and Johnson County,” said Gov. Bevin. “Already, other Kentucky cities have taken notice of what has been done there and said: ‘We are going to do that in our community.’ That’s exactly the kind of contagious activity we hoped would happen, where good things capture the fascination of people and start to spread.”
Gov. Bevin and Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton will host a catered barbecue (not provided at taxpayer expense) in Paintsville to celebrate the community’s achievement — at a date to be determined.
“Our committee knew we wanted to do a project in our community; and when we heard Gov. Bevin issue the ‘Beautify the Bluegrass’ challenge, we were all the more energized,” said Paintsville/Johnson County Trail Town Committee member Laura Pack. “Our projects have done so much for our feeling of community here in Paintsville. It is great to have bright, freshly painted buildings and a refurbished park, but even better than that is the good vibe that has been created as we all worked together. Our feeling of community has been greatly strengthened through this project.”
The cities of Island (McLean County) and Corbin (Whitley/Knox Counties) received honorable mention in the competition. Island transformed an abandoned hardware store into a new retail facility, adorned with a mural celebrating the town’s history. Corbin brought together numerous community groups to clean up litter on State Highway 312 and other local roadways.
“Selecting a winner for the 2017 ‘Beautify the Bluegrass’ contest was not an easy task,” said Gov. Bevin. “Thank you to all of our outstanding applicants; and thank you for everything you do day in and day out to beautify your communities and make them shine.”
In accordance with the proclamation by United States President Donald Trump, and with respect for those who lost their lives in the Las Vegas massacre, Governor Matt Bevin has directed both American and state flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on Oct. 6 to honor the victims and their families.
“What happened in Las Vegas was the handiwork of unadulterated evil in its vilest, most despicable form,” said Gov. Bevin. “Kentucky stands in solidarity with the citizens of Las Vegas and with all Americans in defiance of any act of terrorism against the citizens of our country. Today, and in the days to come, we will give thanks for the quick, decisive acts of first responders that prevented further tragedy. We mourn the lives that were lost, and we will honor their memory. We will pray for the families and friends of those who lost loved ones, and for those recovering from injuries sustained as the tragedy unfolded. We will not allow fear to rule our hearts—evil will not triumph against us. United we stand. Divided we fall.”
Gov. Bevin encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute of lowering the flag to honor the victims and families of the Las Vegas shooting.
Automotive frame manufacturer Metalsa Structural Products Inc. will add 113 jobs at its Owensboro facility with a $36.5 million expansion to produce a new line of stamped and welded components.
“With three production facilities in the commonwealth, Metalsa stands as one of our largest automotive employers,” Gov. Bevin said. “We are grateful for this additional expansion and these new jobs. This will strengthen Kentucky’s economy and further propel us toward our goal of being the American center of engineering and manufacturing excellence. We welcome this growth and congratulate both Metalsa and the Owensboro community on their success.”
The $36.5 million will include investment in robotic welding cells, assembly line robots, infrastructure and building expansions to increase the facility’s square footage to accommodate the new production line and additional warehouse space. The expansion began this summer and hiring is for September 2018 through June 2019. Company leaders expect production to begin in March 2019.
In Kentucky, Metalsa currently employs about 2,700 people at three vehicle-frame facilities. It established the Owensboro facility in 1997, opened its Hopkinsville plant in 1989 and its Elizabethtown plant dates to 1994.
Established in 1956 as Manufacturas Metálicas Monterrey with a plant in Churubusco, Mexico, the company initially produced structures for the construction industry then began manufacturing automotive parts four years later. The company changed its name to Metalsa in 1980. Current products include frames and fuel tanks for light and commercial vehicles, among other items.
Kentucky’s automotive industry — a key sector of the commonwealth’s economy — employs more than 100,000 people at 500-plus facilities across the state. This year through August, the industry announced a dozen new locations or expansions totaling $3.9 billion in investments. Those are expected to create more than 3,100 full-time jobs.
Kentucky’s ideal location as a gateway between the nation’s two auto-production hotbeds offers suppliers the opportunity to produce components in a low-cost, right-to-work state and ship their products quickly and cost-effectively to assembly plants in Kentucky and across the Midwest and South.
Sen. Joe Bowen, of Owensboro, said the announcement will benefit the region for years to come.
“It is a great day when a company that already employs so many Kentuckians chooses to expand its operations in our city,” he said. “I am pleased that Metalsa chose to increase its investment in its Owensboro facility and I thank them for their dedication to our community.”
Rep. Suzanne Miles, of Owensboro, commended Metalsa on its commitment to the region and thanked those involved with landing the project.
“I want to congratulate Metalsa Structural Products on their expansion and thank them for their continued investment in the 7th District,” Rep. Miles said. “This expansion will create jobs for the Owensboro area and bring continued economic development to our region. Metalsa Structural Products has long been a successful corporate and community partner for Owensboro, and I want to applaud all those who made this investment possible.”
Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson said the company’s growth reflects the pro-business climate of the community.
“The City of Owensboro is proud and honored to be the site of Metalsa’s expansion,” Mayor Watson said. “The company’s commitment to Owensboro is a testament to our positive business environment, a highly-skilled workforce and superb quality of life. We look forward to working with this fine corporate citizen for many years to come.”
Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly welcomed news of the expansion.
“On behalf of the fiscal court and the citizens of Daviess County, I congratulate Metalsa on their expansion,” Judge Mattingly said. “This project will create high-wage jobs, and illustrates the company’s confidence in our workforce and community.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June preliminarily approved Metalsa for tax incentives up to $3.5 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
In addition, Metalsa can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal year 2016, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for nearly 95,000 Kentuckians and 5,000 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
For more information on Metalsa, visit www.metalsa.com.
A detailed community profile for Daviess County can be viewed at http://bit.ly/DaviessCoKy.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.
In the wake of the U.S. Department of Education calling into question federal Title IX protections, Attorney General Andy Beshear firmly stated his office will continue to seek justice for survivors of campus sexual assault, even if the federal government will not.
Yesterday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delivered remarks indicating that the department may not be as aggressive in fighting campus sexual assault and protecting survivors.
In response, Beshear said that his office is committed to maintaining protections for survivors of campus sexual assault, while working to increase reporting, investigations and prosecution of the crime.
“I have made seeking justice for victims of campus sexual assault a top priority for my office,” said Beshear. “Campus sexual assault is a grave and real threat to students’ safety – and I want survivors to know that my office will continue to stand up for their rights and fight to preserve Title IX protections.”
According to statistics, nearly 1 in 5 women on campus will be a victim of sexual assault, and the FBI estimates that between 92 and 98 percent of reports of rape are truthful. Yet, victims face many barriers in being believed, reporting sexual assault and finding justice.
Under Title IX, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights’ current guidance instructs colleges on how to respond to and address sexual assault incidents. The guidance requires the appointment of a Title IX coordinator, mandatory reporting by responsible school officials and the implementation of procedures for handling investigations and hearings.
In a July letter, Beshear and 19 other state attorneys general asked federal education officials to work with them before rolling back protections for survivors of sexual assault on college campuses.
A core mission of Beshear’s is to seek justice for victims of sexual assault and his Office of Victims Advocacy has been at the forefront of this effort in Kentucky.
Over the past year, the office collaborated with the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs to create the #VoiceofJustice video contest to raise awareness for the sexual assault hotline, 800-656-HOPE, and promote reporting and active bystanding.
The office is also providing trainings for campus and community groups, prosecutors and investigators on seeking justice for victims of campus sexual assault, including criminal, civil and administrative rights.
The office also created a Survivors Council, which includes survivors of different crimes including individuals who have survived campus sexual assault, to directly advise and assist the office on matters related to victims of crime, including training, awareness and policy initiatives.
Beshear’s office is also working to increase transparency in the reporting of sexual assault on Kentucky’s college campuses.
Beshear said students and survivors of campus sexual assault should know they are not alone and that his Office of Victims Advocacy is here to help.
To contact the Office of Victims Advocacy call 502-696-5320 or email Executive Director Gretchen Hunt at Gretchen.Hunt@ky.gov.
