FRANKFORT, Ky. — Homeschooled students in Kentucky may soon have access to more scholarship money to attend college. Senate Bill 7 would expand Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship or KEES funding to include students that are homeschooled.

What You Need To Know

  • Currently, only students attending certified schools can earn up to an additional $2,000 by getting a 4.0 GPA every four years

  • Since homeschooled students do not get a traditional GPA, SB 7 would take their ACT score and convert it to an equivalent GPA

  • A score of 28 or more would equal a 4.0 GPA

All high school students in Kentucky can earn up to $500 in KEES scholarship funds by scoring a 28 or better on the ACT. Currently, only students attending certified schools can earn up to an additional $2,000 by getting a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) every four years.

But Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson’s, R, Bowling Green, SB 7 would expand KEES funding to incentivize home schooled students to do well in their studies too.

“Your students that are homeschooled cannot get the full award. What this bill does is level that field for them and allow them to get the full KEES award,” Wilson said.

Since homeschooled students do not get a traditional GPA, SB 7 would take their ACT score and convert it to an equivalent GPA. A score of 28 or more would equal a 4.0 GPA.

“It will take their ACT score and multiply that times four to give them a four-year award, plus they would get the bonus of the ACT scores,” Wilson said.

Wilson says there are 60,000 registered homeschool students across the state. He says students that aren’t in a traditional high school setting score just as well, if not better than their peers.

“Traditionally you have your home school students score very high on the ACT 28 or above, a lot of them in the 30s and are highly sought after by universities,” Wilson said.

KEES funds can only be used at Kentucky colleges. Wilson said giving home schooled students their fair chance at $2,500 would incentivize students to stay in the Commonwealth. His bill passed the Senate education committee 12-0 and will soon be voted on by all of his colleagues.

“I don’t think a lot of persuasion is necessary because they would like to see these kids stay here, go to school and earn their full KEES award too,” Wilson said.

SB 7, the bill allowing homeschooled students access to KEES money passed 33-4 Tuesday, Jan. 23 and now heads to the House. (Spectrum News 1/Austin Schick)

SB 7 passed 33-4 Tuesday, Jan. 23 and now heads to the House.

KEES scholarships are funded by the Kentucky Lottery revenue.

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