LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The botched first day for Jefferson County Public Schools is drawing mixed reactions from lawmakers, with some calling for more oversight of the state’s largest school district.

What You Need To Know

  • Lawmakers in Kentucky are weighing in on Jefferson County Public Schools' first day of school transportation woes

  • A group of 12 Republican state lawmakers called for the governor to convene a special session of the legislature to address the problem

  • Among their list of action items, they call for the right of students to attend neighborhood schools and a ballot measure to allow "school choice"

  • U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat who represents Louisville, called for accountability from JCPS

In an open letter to “JCPS parents, teachers, students and taxpayers” 12 GOP lawmakers decried the transportation woes that plagued the first day of school for many. The group included State Reps. Jared Bauman, Kevin Bratcher, Emily Callaway, John Hodgson, Ken Fleming, Jason Nemes, Susan Witten, and State Sens. Matt Deneen, Julie Raque Adams, Mike Nemes, Lindsey Tichenor and Adrienne Southworth — all Republicans. 

The group said JCPS “failed in its most fundamental obligation, which is to keep our kids safe.” In their letter, they called for several steps to be taken to address the situation that include:

  • Re-filing a bill in the state legislature giving students the right to attend their neighborhood schools
  • A commission to evaluate splitting up JCPS
  • Extensive changes to the school board
  • A "school choice amendment" to be put on the 2024 ballot
  • Convening a special session of the General Assembly to immediately enact these policies and other steps

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat who represents Louisville, called the day’s events “frustrating, scary and unacceptable.” Further, he said JCPS families “deserve to see accountability and concrete steps to make sure this never happens again.” McGarvey said his son attends a JCPS school.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron, R-Ky., who is running for governor, laid blame at the feet of the Jefferson County School Board, which he said focused too much on “defying Senate Bill 150.” “The school board spent more time talking about gender ideology than they did making sure that our bus routes were ready for our children,” Cameron declared. 

The calls for change and accountability come in the wake of the mishandled rollout of new start times and bus routes for JCPS. The measures were meant to help alleviate a bus driver shortage in the district, as well as help families who need more flexibility.

JCPS is the state’s largest school district, with over 96,000 students and 165 schools across Jefferson County.   

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