Students at noncertified schools could qualify for KEES scholarships

The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority would treat some students at noncertified schools as eligible for KEES scholarships. Covered students would be Kentucky residents who are citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, attend a Kentucky private, parochial, or church secondary school that is not certified by the Kentucky Board of Education, and are not convicted felons. Students would have to attend the noncertified school for an academic year after June 30, 2026. Students would have to complete the authority's reporting and application requirements. An equivalent GPA would use at least two dual-credit courses, at least two Advanced Placement exams, or a combination of those courses and exams. The noncertified-school eligibility described here would apply to enrollment after June 30, 2026, with equivalent-GPA awards beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The authority would provide listed KEES supplemental awards to eligible noncertified school students who meet the required testing and financial-need rules. The provisions cover eligible noncertified school students with qualifying ACT, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge Advanced International results. For Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge awards, a noncertified school student would have to show financial need under criteria set by the authority. ACT supplemental awards would require a score of at least 15 and would use the student's highest score earned by graduation. The listed awards range from $200 to $300 for qualifying AP, IB, or Cambridge exam results, while ACT awards range from $36 to $500. The financial-need-based AP, IB, and Cambridge awards for noncertified school students would begin with the 2026-2027 academic year.

An eligible noncertified school graduate who earned a KEES award would be able to use the scholarship at a participating college or other approved program, subject to the stated limits. Eligible students could receive awards for up to eight academic terms at a participating institution, or use reimbursement for approved apprenticeships, workforce programs, qualifying proprietary school programs, or eligible colleges of art and design. Students would have to enroll and attend as full-time or part-time students and maintain the required eligibility. Awards for approved training programs could reimburse tuition, books, required tools, and other approved expenses after certification and authority approval. Training reimbursements would be limited to the student's KEES award maximum per year and four times that maximum overall. College eligibility would generally end five years after high school graduation or when the student completes the program, subject to stated exceptions; training eligibility follows the same five-year limit and ends when the program is completed.