On April 15, the last day of the legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 197. The bill included a section related to Kentucky’s college entrance exam that would place limitations on the use of general funds and require a new procurement for a college entrance exam for the 2026–2027 school year.
On April 27, Gov. Andy Beshear, using his authority granted under Section 88 of the Kentucky Constitution, vetoed the reference to the limitation on the use of general funds but did not veto the reference to a new competitive procurement process.
Therefore, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will be required to begin a new procurement for the state-provided college entrance exam to be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year.
As a result of the legislation’s requirement for a new competitive procurement, the 2026-2027 school year will begin without a decision on which college entrance exam will be administered to juniors.
“This legislation brings understandable concern and uncertainty for students, families and educators as the 2026-2027 school year begins,” Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said.
As required by the legislation, KDE is working with the Finance and Administration Cabinet to repeat the competitive procurement process.
In July 2025, KDE completed a competitive procurement pursuant to the Kentucky Model Procurement Code as set forth in KRS Chapter 45A and as facilitated by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The contract was awarded to the College Board to administer the SAT Junior State Administration beginning in spring 2026. Their initial four-year contract, which could be renewed for up to nine years, included the potential to save the Commonwealth up to $350,000 annually.
Leave A Comment