Local Superintendents Advisory Council Recommends School Bus, Fee Waiver Changes

Proposed updates to Kentucky's school bus specifications and guidelines for student fee waivers move forward.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:37pm

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The Kentucky Department of Education's Local Superintendents Advisory Council (LSAC) has recommended approval of amendments to regulations and minimum specifications for school buses, as well as changes to guidelines for the waiver of school fees. The proposed updates, which will now go to the Kentucky Board of Education for consideration, include new federal requirements, clarifications on fee waivers, and other operational improvements.

Why it matters

These recommendations from LSAC aim to ensure Kentucky's school transportation and fee policies remain up-to-date and serve the needs of students and districts across the state. The changes impact critical areas like student safety, accessibility, and equitable access to education.

The details

The proposed school bus specification updates include new requirements for diesel engines, adding a second handrail for student entry, and increasing the weight capacity for wheelchair lifts. LSAC also recommended clarifying that schools in the federal Community Eligibility Provision program must still have a process to allow individual students to apply for fee waivers, rather than automatically waiving fees for all students.

  • The LSAC meeting where the recommendations were made was held on March 31, 2026.
  • The Kentucky Board of Education is scheduled to consider the LSAC recommendations at its next meeting on April 8-9, 2026.

The players

Robbie Fletcher

Commissioner of Education for the Kentucky Department of Education.

Roger Banks

Manager of the Pupil Transportation Branch at the Kentucky Department of Education.

Matt Ross

Associate Commissioner of the Office of Finance and Operations at the Kentucky Department of Education.

Local Superintendents Advisory Council (LSAC)

An advisory council charged with providing input to the Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Board of Education on administrative regulations and education policy.

Kentucky Board of Education (KBE)

The governing body that will consider the LSAC recommendations at its next meeting.

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What they’re saying

“The proposed changes would apply to new bus purchases only. More details on school bus specifications can be found on KDE's School Buses webpage.”

— Roger Banks, Manager of KDE's Pupil Transportation Branch

“The proposed regulation amendment adds language clarifying that in order to have fees waived, the specific student must be eligible for free or reduced price-lunch even if they attend a school in the Community Eligibility Provision program.”

— Matt Ross, Associate Commissioner of KDE's Office of Finance and Operations

What’s next

The Kentucky Board of Education will consider the LSAC recommendations during its meeting on April 8-9, 2026. If approved, the updated school bus specifications and fee waiver guidelines will go into effect for the 2027 school year.

The takeaway

These proposed changes to Kentucky's school transportation and fee policies demonstrate the state's ongoing commitment to student safety, accessibility, and equitable access to education. The collaborative process between LSAC and KDE ensures the regulations remain responsive to the evolving needs of districts and families.