KRS § 164.099 Definitions for section -- Proactive postsecondary admissions program -- Requirements. (Effective July 15, 2026)

164.099 Definitions for section -- Proactive postsecondary admissions program -- Requirements. (Effective July 15, 2026) (1) As used in this section: (a) "Council" means the Council on Postsecondary Education; and (b) "Department" means the Kentucky Department of Education. (2) There is hereby established a proactive postsecondary admissions program to: (a) Notify high school students of eligibility for prospective admission to a public postsecondary education institution; and (b) Provide instructions to high school students on how to access the common online application to apply for full admission to public postsecondary education institutions in Kentucky. (3) No later than July 1, 2027, each public postsecondary education institution shall: (a) Establish a minimum academic qualification for prospective admission to the institution through the proactive postsecondary admissions program that exclusively includes: 1. A minimum grade point average; or 2. A combination of a minimum grade point average and minimum score on a nationally recognized college readiness examination accepted by the institution; and (b) Implement a common online application approved by the council for the purpose of evaluating the admission of full-time, first-year students. (4) Each public school district shall: (a) Annually invite each student enrolled in a public high school to participate in the proactive postsecondary admissions program and select a preferred communication method for program correspondence; and (b) No later than July 1 each year, notify the department of each high school student that has agreed to participate in the proactive postsecondary admissions program and his or her preferred communication method. (5) (a) On or before September 1, the department shall annually provide the following information to each public postsecondary education institution for each student who is enrolled at a Kentucky public high school or a certified nonpublic high school and who has not been opted out of sharing directory information in accordance with 34 C.F.R. sec. 99.37: 1. Name; 2. Address; 3. Enrolled school district; 4. Grade level; 5. Phone number; and 6. Email address. (b) On or before September 1, the department shall annually provide the directory information required by paragraph (a) of this subsection to each public postsecondary education institution for each student that is enrolled at a Kentucky public high school or certified nonpublic high school who has agreed to participate in the proactive postsecondary admissions program, and shall also include the student's: 1. Cumulative unweighted grade point average; 2. Highest score on a nationally recognized college readiness examination approved by the council; 3. If applicable, status as a graduate of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, Governor's School for the Arts, or Governor's School for Entrepreneurs; and 4. Preferred communication method. (6) (a) Beginning in 2028, each public postsecondary education institution shall utilize data provided by the council pursuant to subsection (5) of this section to send to each eligible high school student that meets or exceeds the minimum qualification for prospective admission to the institution a personalized prospective admissions notification that provides: 1. Notice of the recipient student's eligibility for prospective admission; 2. Instructions for the recipient student to access the common online application to apply for full admission to the institution; 3. Instructions for the recipient student to access state financial aid and scholarship or grant opportunities; 4. Information on the cost of attending the institution and the workforce outcomes of students, including a link to the information reported in accordance with KRS 164.0284; and 5. Notice of institutional aid opportunities. (b) A personalized prospective admission notification sent pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not constitute an offer or guarantee of admission to a public postsecondary education institution. (7) Each public postsecondary education institution shall retain the right to perform a comprehensive review of all admissions applications internally. An institution shall not be required to grant acceptance or priority consideration to any student that applies to the institution, regardless of whether: (a) The application was submitted through the proactive postsecondary admissions program established by this section; or (b) An applicant meets or exceeds the minimum qualification for prospective admission to the institution established pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section. (8) The council shall collaborate with the public postsecondary education institutions to: (a) Promote and evaluate the proactive postsecondary admissions program and discuss best practices for proactive admission notifications; and (b) Report annually on the program’s effectiveness to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate Interim Joint Committee on Education. (9) The department shall collaborate with local school districts to: (a) Maximize student participation in the proactive postsecondary admissions program; and (b) Submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate Interim Joint Committee on Education on the proactive postsecondary admissions program that includes: 1. The percentage of students at each school and school district that agreed to participate in the proactive postsecondary admissions program; 2. The methods utilized by a school or school district to invite students to participate in the proactive postsecondary admissions program and the effectiveness of each method; and 3. Perceived barriers to student participation in the proactive postsecondary admissions program. Effective: July 15, 2026 History: Created 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 35, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2026. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/15/2026). 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 35, sec. 6, provides that the Act, which created this statute and KRS 151B.136 and amended KRS 164.020, may be cited as the My Kentucky Future Act.