Truett-led Diploma Measure Opens New Paths for Kentucky students

A measure led by State Rep. Timmy Truett to expand graduation options for Kentucky students became law this spring, establishing two distinct diploma pathways and directing the state to build stronger links between eligible graduates and employers.

House Bill 562, “An Act relating to alternative high school diplomas,” requires the Kentucky Board of Education to adopt regulations for an alternate high school diploma and a modified high school diploma. The law sets separate standards for the credentials and updates related education and scholarship statutes.

Truett served as the bill’s primary sponsor, placing the proposal at the center of his 2026 education agenda and guiding it through the House. The measure attracted 27 co-sponsors from both parties, reflecting broad support for giving students whose individualized education programs call for modified coursework a recognized credential and clearer options after high school.

The legislation also directs the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to identify employers willing to hire people who hold an alternate diploma, organize that information by county and publish the list online. That provision extends the bill beyond the classroom, aiming to help students and families translate a diploma into a practical route to work.

HB 562 also broadens access to state-supported postsecondary opportunities. Its provisions update eligibility rules connected to the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship and the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship for qualifying students, including students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in approved transition or postsecondary programs.

The bill moved through the General Assembly with unanimous recorded support. The House approved it 96-0 on Feb. 17. After the Senate adopted a committee substitute, senators passed the measure 36-0 on March 19. The House concurred 95-0 on March 31, and the governor signed the bill on April 3 as Acts Chapter 15.

For Truett, the law represents a concrete effort to align special education, graduation recognition and workforce preparation. His primary sponsorship brought together a bipartisan coalition and helped carry the proposal from its Feb. 4 introduction to enactment in less than two months.

Implementation now shifts to state education and workforce officials, who will develop the required regulations and employer resources. Families, school districts and employers will be watching how the new pathways are put into practice and whether they deliver on the law’s central promise: a more meaningful transition from school to further education and employment for Kentucky students.

According to Rep. Truett, approximately 75% of students who graduate without a traditional diploma are unemployed. “I think if we give these guys a diploma, that we can open up a lot more doors for these students to pursue a job,” Truett said in February.