The KCTCS Board of Regents has presented the general assembly with recommendations for improving the two-year college system.
KCTCS officials are advocating for their organization to be the only institution allowed to provide dual credit courses in the state. The system already provides 70 percent of all dual-credit courses in Kentucky to more than 30,000 high school students. Officials said the change would reduce issues some students face when transferring credits.
Ryan Quarles is the President of KCTCS. He said the issue is essential.
“We wanted to start a conversation about the future of dual credit in Kentucky. Because it is proliferated and grown so much, we need to make sure that there's better coordination and perhaps better advisement at the K-12 level so that Kentuckians aren't wasting their time nor money taking classes that may not transfer,” said Quarles.
KCTCS officials are also advocating for a 100 percent outcome-based funding model if the legislation sets state appropriations at or above the average rate of comparable states. The organization advises strengthening academic programming and expanding credential eligibility and funding for the Work Ready Scholarship.
Quarles added the organization has taken the initiative and begun reviewing internal policies.
“Since becoming president, it came to my attention that about 80 percent of KCTCS’s policies are outdated, so we've already started to review that. Regardless of the SJR outcomes, we're going to go ahead and move forward with that,” said Quarles.
The group presented their findings to the general assembly last month ahead of the 2025 legislative session. KCTCS officials said they are hopeful these recommendations will put the focus on students and helping them find jobs within Kentucky.