# Kentucky advisory panel backs school bus, fee waiver changes  
**Published:** 2026-04-01T15:37:56.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/04/local-superintendents-advisory-council-recommends-approval-of-amendments-to-school-bus-specifications-guidelines-for-school-fee-waivers/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-advisory-panel-backs-school-bus-fee-waiver-changes

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Members of the Kentucky Department of Education's Local Superintendents Advisory Council recommended approval of amendments to school bus specifications and fee waiver guidelines during a meeting held March 31, according to [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/04/local-superintendents-advisory-council-recommends-approval-of-amendments-to-school-bus-specifications-guidelines-for-school-fee-waivers/).

The proposed changes to school bus specifications include [requirements driven by new federal Environmental Protection Agency standards for diesel engines, adding a second handrail for student entry, and increasing wheelchair lift capacity from 800 pounds to 1,000 pounds](https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/trans/Pages/School%20Buses.aspx). Additional updates would automate school bus warning lights to activate with the vehicle's ignition, eliminating extra steps for drivers.

The Kentucky Department of Education gathers transportation professionals annually to recommend specification changes. "Kentucky's school bus specifications come up for consideration annually and the Kentucky Department of Education gathers a team of professionals in the transportation field to recommend potential changes," according to the council's mandate under state law.

The advisory council also recommended clarifications to school fee waiver guidelines. The proposed amendment would clarify that students in schools participating in the federal [Community Eligibility Provision program must still have individual fee waiver processes available](https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/community-eligibility-provision), rather than having fees automatically waived for all students. The provision allows high-poverty schools to serve meals at no cost to all students without individual household applications.

"The proposed regulation amendment adds language clarifying that in order to have fees waived, the specific student must be eligible for free or reduced price-lunch even if they attend a school in the Community Eligibility Provision program," said Matt Ross, associate commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Finance and Operations.

All proposed changes would apply only to new school bus purchases, meaning existing fleets would not be affected. If approved by the Kentucky Board of Education, the updated specifications and guidelines would take effect for the 2027 school year. The [Kentucky Board of Education is scheduled to consider the recommendations during its April 8-9 meeting](https://www.education.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx).

## Sources

- [Kentucky Teacher](http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/04/local-superintendents-advisory-council-recommends-approval-of-amendments-to-school-bus-specifications-guidelines-for-school-fee-waivers/)
- [Kentucky Department of Education - School Buses resource page](https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/trans/Pages/School%20Buses.aspx)
- [U.S. Department of Agriculture - Community Eligibility Provision program information](https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/community-eligibility-provision)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Teacher, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/04/local-superintendents-advisory-council-recommends-approval-of-amendments-to-school-bus-specifications-guidelines-for-school-fee-waivers/.