A bill has been filed by the House Education Committee chairman requiring a state audit of the Kentucky Department of Education to determine if it is complying with state mandates.

House Bill 825, sponsored by State Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, also would result in an audit of the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind — which the department oversees — and department-operated area technology centers.

The examination would identify any area of operation “demonstrating a significant lack of efficiency and effectiveness,” the legislation said.

Under the bill, the audit report would have to be submitted to the General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee by July 1, 2025. The bill states the report “shall include recommendations on how the fiscal controls and operations of the Kentucky Department of Education may be improved.”

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said Tuesday morning that he hadn’t fully reviewed the bill but wasn’t surprised by its filing.

“Every now and then, everybody needs to be looked at,” Stivers said.

Republican bill would see voters, not governor, decide on KY Board of Education members

The legislation is the latest Republican sponsored bill aimed at more oversight of the state education department and board of education.

The 2023 General Assembly passed a law that, for the first time, requires the Kentucky Senate, which is currently Republican-led, to confirm the state education commissioner appointment.

The performance of the education commissioner would also be examined under House Bill 825.

The Commissioner of Education is the chief state school officer and oversees the daily operations of the Kentucky Department of Education and acts as superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Blind, the Kentucky School for the Deaf and the 50 area technology centers.

The state is now taking applications for that post.

Fifteen candidates apply to be Kentucky’s next education commissioner

While the commissioner is subject to Senate confirmation, Stivers said that it’s possible the Senate could suspend the law requiring confirmation during this session — potentially kicking it to next year’s session — depending on the timing of a hire.

In 2023, former commissioner Jason Glass came under fire for his stance against Senate Bill 150, a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors that drew heavy protest from pro-LGBTQ rights groups. He cited the bill’s passage as a reason he left the state to become an associate vice-president at Western Michigan University.

Tipton and Kentucky Department of Education officials did not immediately comment on the bill Tuesday morning.