Kentucky

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Strategy Name Strategy Type(s) Year Funding Amount Funding Source Features at a Glance
Child Development Specialist Youth Apprenticeship
In 2000, House Bill 706 allocated 25% of the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Fund to support early childhood programs. Kentucky provides three apprenticeship options in early childhood education: the Child Development Specialist Youth Apprenticeship, Early Childhood Instructor Apprenticeship, and Early Childhood Program Administrator/Director Apprenticeship. Apprentices in these programs receive a national journey worker credential, graduated pay raises, and bonuses while working in a high-quality early care and education program. Employers do not have to bear any training costs, as progressive wage increases, mentor stipends, and milestone achievements are all covered by the apprenticeship program. High school juniors and seniors are eligible for the Youth Apprenticeship. Students enrolled in a registered Apprenticeship Program can also earn 9-12 college credit hours in an Early Childhood Program through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The majority of Youth Apprentices graduate with a Child Development Assistant certification. Learn more: Kentucky Career Center Sources: Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Growing the Early Childhood Workforce: Apprenticeships. Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Growing the Early Childhood Workforce: Youth Apprenticeships. Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Leadership.
  • Workforce
    • Apprenticeships
    		 2000
    • CCDBG COVID Relief Allocations – CARES, CRRSE, ARPA (CCDF & Stabilization)
    • Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five
    Part of Federal Registered Apprenticeship Program
    In 2000, House Bill 706 allocated 25% of the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Fund to support early childhood programs. Kentucky provides three apprenticeship options in early childhood education: the Child Development Specialist Youth Apprenticeship, Early Childhood Instructor Apprenticeship, and Early Childhood Program Administrator/Director Apprenticeship. Apprentices in these programs receive a national journey worker credential, graduated pay raises, and bonuses while working in a high-quality early care and education program. Employers do not have to bear any training costs, as progressive wage increases, mentor stipends, and milestone achievements are all covered by the apprenticeship program. High school juniors and seniors are eligible for the Youth Apprenticeship. Students enrolled in a registered Apprenticeship Program can also earn 9-12 college credit hours in an Early Childhood Program through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The majority of Youth Apprentices graduate with a Child Development Assistant certification. Learn more: Kentucky Career Center Sources: Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Growing the Early Childhood Workforce: Apprenticeships. Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Growing the Early Childhood Workforce: Youth Apprenticeships. Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Leadership.
    Kentucky Data Collaborative and Kentucky Longitudinal Data System
    Created in 2012, the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) maintains the Kentucky Longitudinal Data System (KLDS), a statewide longitudinal data system that includes data on kindergarten readiness, birth statistics, and early learning programs’ enrollments/ratings. The KLDS functions as a data warehouse for data from multiple agencies, including Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The warehouse links and merges demographic, program, and individual level-data from early learning services through workforce for evaluation, research, monitoring, and public information purposes. The individual data is deidentified with a unique identifier. Data is accessible via request with a data-sharing agreement required for all deidentified individual level data. KYSTATS, which builds upon the work of the state’s P-20 Data Collaborative, was given authority to maintain the KLDS through KRS151B.132. KYSTATS is funded through state appropriations, federal Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grants, other grants, and user fees. Learn More: Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) History
    • Infrastructure to Support Early Childhood Systems
      • Data Systems
      		 2012
      Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grants, User Fees
      P-20 Longitudinal Data System
      Created in 2012, the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) maintains the Kentucky Longitudinal Data System (KLDS), a statewide longitudinal data system that includes data on kindergarten readiness, birth statistics, and early learning programs’ enrollments/ratings. The KLDS functions as a data warehouse for data from multiple agencies, including Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The warehouse links and merges demographic, program, and individual level-data from early learning services through workforce for evaluation, research, monitoring, and public information purposes. The individual data is deidentified with a unique identifier. Data is accessible via request with a data-sharing agreement required for all deidentified individual level data. KYSTATS, which builds upon the work of the state’s P-20 Data Collaborative, was given authority to maintain the KLDS through KRS151B.132. KYSTATS is funded through state appropriations, federal Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grants, other grants, and user fees. Learn More: Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) History
      Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Fund
      Since 1998, Kentucky has allocated 25% of funds from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement to early childhood care and education programs. In 2021, the annual revenue directed towards the state early childhood office was $7.4 million. Learn More: An unexpected windfall for early childhood education
      • Dedicated Funding Streams & Financing
        • Tobacco Master Settlement
        		 1998 $7.4 million
        State Dedicated Funding Stream
        In 2021, Tobacco Master Settlement funds generated $7.4 million to support the state early childhood office
        Since 1998, Kentucky has allocated 25% of funds from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement to early childhood care and education programs. In 2021, the annual revenue directed towards the state early childhood office was $7.4 million. Learn More: An unexpected windfall for early childhood education
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        Demographics Link copied!

        Demographics Data Scorecard

        State population

        4,512,310 Source U.S. Census, 2022

        Rural %

        41.3% Source U.S. Census, 2020

        Urban %

        58.7% Source U.S. Census, 2020

        Number of children 0–4

        265,121 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

        Poverty levels - children 0—8 below 200% poverty

        47% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

        Median family income among households with children

        $69,200.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

        Unemployment rate

        4.6% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2024

        Unemployment rate of parents

        4% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

        Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force

        64% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

        Children living in households with a high housing cost burden

        34% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

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        Child Population by Race and Ethnicity Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

        Race and Ethnicity

        • American Indian and Alaska Native (0.49%)
        • Asian (2%)
        • Black or African American (9%)
        • Hispanic or Latino (7%)
        • Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (0.49%)
        • Two or more races (5%)
        • White, not Hispanic or Latino (77%)
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        Year 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
        Governor D D D R R
        State House R R R R R
        State Senate R R R R R
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        Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!

        Early Childhood Education Programs

        Public Pre-K Program Name

        Kentucky Preschool Program (KPP) Source: NIEER 2023

        Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy

        Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023

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        Early Childhood Education Programs (3-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023

        Programs

        • Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (6%)
        • 3-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (11%)
        • Other/None (83%)
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        Early Childhood Education Programs (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023

        Programs

        • Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (25%)
        • 4-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (9%)
        • Other/None (66%)
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        Workforce Link copied!

        2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020

        Role

        • Child Care Workers
          $9.71 (2017, adjusted)
          $9.89 (2019)
        • Preschool Teachers
          $16.2 (2017, adjusted)
          $14.42 (2019)
        • Preschool or Child Care Center Directors
          $21.77 (2017, adjusted)
          $17.30 (2019)
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        Funding Sources Link copied!

        Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in Millions) Source First Five Years Fund, 2024

        Funding Source

        • Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($185.7)
        • CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($200)
        • CCDBG State Match ($11.6)
        • State-Funded Pre-K ($112.6)
        • MIECHV ($7.8)
        • IDEA Part C ($7.1)
        • IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($11.2)
        • TANF Early Learning and Care ($19.7)
        • Preschool Development Grant Birth ($11.9)
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