Bill > HB427

This bill amends Kentucky's postsecondary education regulations to create and maintain statewide transfer pathways for high-demand baccalaureate degree programs. The Council on Postsecondary Education is required to define and identify high-demand programs based on student and workforce needs, and develop transfer pathways consisting of 60 credit hours that can be transferred between public institutions. By July 1, 2026, the council must publish these pathways on its website and ensure they remain available even if a program is no longer considered high-demand. The bill mandates that participating institutions must accept transfer credits within these pathways, applying them first to general education and program-specific requirements before considering them as elective credits. Additionally, the bill provides more flexibility for students by allowing credits to be earned through various methods, including prior learning and dual credit, and strengthens existing provisions for credit transferability between community colleges and universities. The legislation aims to simplify the transfer process, reduce credit loss, and support students' smooth progression through postsecondary education by creating more standardized and transparent credit transfer mechanisms.