Kentucky Educators Urge Lawmakers To Fund Universal Pre K For Four Year Olds In Upcoming State Budget

Frankfort, Kentucky, December 9th, 2025.
A series of formal communications from THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS and other civic and educational leaders has placed the question of universal pre K squarely before members of THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY, with calls for lawmakers to prioritize funding for statewide access to pre K for every four year old child during the upcoming twenty twenty six to twenty twenty seven budget cycle. These appeals, submitted directly to the legislature and affirmed through the official channels of THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, represent the first clear, first hand public record of a coordinated request to embed universal pre K within the next biennial budget.

The most direct statement comes from KASA, an organization representing more than three thousand three hundred educational leaders across the state. In a letter delivered to the General Assembly on December 8th, KASA expressed its belief that Kentucky must place early childhood learning at the center of the approaching budget session, urging lawmakers to designate universal pre K for four year olds as a leading priority. The Governor’s Office published KASA’s position in an official release and included a statement from KASA Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Caldwell, who affirmed that the initiative aligns with the organization’s vision for strengthened school systems and long term academic readiness.

Additional first hand evidence of advocacy for universal pre K appears in formal letters submitted independently by local business leaders, chambers of commerce, and municipal officials. These letters call upon the General Assembly to expand access to pre K for every four year old Kentuckian during the twenty twenty six budget session and describe the matter as essential not only for childhood development but also for workforce stability. One such letter outlines projected economic benefits for families, noting that improved kindergarten readiness and long term academic outcomes could correspond with substantial earnings gains, as estimated by the signatories who submitted the communication.

The initiative itself, referred to as Pre K for All, has been the subject of official action since the issuance of EXECUTIVE ORDER 2025 351, which created THE PRE K FOR ALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE under the direction of THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. The Advisory Committee’s report describes the proposal as a voluntary, universal early childhood education program intended to provide pre K access to all Kentucky four year olds. It notes that roughly twenty seven percent of the state’s children currently participate in the existing preschool system and that expanded access would require funding to be incorporated through the regular biennial budget process. The report also contains statements of support from educators, business leaders, and local officials, and recommends that the initiative be advanced during the upcoming legislative session.

Each of the documents presented thus far demonstrates that the request for universal pre K funding is directed explicitly to the General Assembly for consideration within the next state budget. These first hand records collectively establish a coordinated effort by school administrators, local leaders, and state level advisory bodies to place universal pre K before lawmakers as a priority for twenty twenty six and beyond. The public statements issued by THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, together with the letters addressed to THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, provide the sole confirmed documentary basis for the ongoing request that the legislature adopt Pre K for All through the upcoming fiscal plan.

The information contained in this report relies exclusively upon first hand materials submitted to the General Assembly, official statements issued by THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, and the published report of THE PRE K FOR ALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. No secondary reporting has been used.

The Appalachian Post is an independent West Virginia news outlet dedicated to clean, verified, first-hand reporting. We do not publish rumors. We do not run speculation. Every fact we present must be supported by original documentation, official statements, or direct evidence. When secondary sources are used, we clearly identify them and never treat them as first-hand confirmation. We avoid loaded language, emotional framing, or accusatory wording, and we do not attack individuals, organizations, or other news outlets. Our role is to report only what can be verified through first-hand sources and allow readers to form their own interpretations. If we cannot confirm a claim using original evidence, we state clearly that we reviewed first-hand sources and could not find documentation confirming it. Our commitment is simple: honest reporting, transparent sourcing, and zero speculation.

Sources

Primary First Hand Sources

• THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, letter to THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY, December 8th, twenty twenty five, as released through THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
• THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, official release announcing KASA’s endorsement of Pre K for All and its request to the legislature.
• THE PRE K FOR ALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, official program report published on governor dot ky dot gov.
• Letters submitted to THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY from local chambers of commerce, mayors, and county judge executives urging universal pre K funding during the twenty twenty six budget session.