FRANKFORT, Ky. — Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Education expressed interest on Sept. 1 in proposals aimed at improving Kentucky's struggling science education while weighing support for a statewide Kentucky Center for Science Education, according to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.

Lee Todd, president emeritus of the University of Kentucky, told lawmakers that the commonwealth lacks the infrastructure to tackle persistent science proficiency gaps compared to reading and mathematics. Todd said the state has a center for reading and a center for math, but science education improvements have stalled. Advocates requested $1 million in startup funding and $2 million annually to operate the proposed science center.

"I've been told by the economic development secretary that there are some companies who won't even let us apply for them to move to Kentucky because we don't have a STEM-ready workforce," Todd said, citing concerns from corporate recruiters about Kentucky's talent pool.

The proposal comes as Kentucky students continue to struggle in science, with only 6 percent of high school students scoring proficient or distinguished on recent state assessments. That represents a sharp decline from 14 percent in 2022, according to test results released in recent years.

Kim Zeidler-Watters, executive director of the Partnership Institute for Math and Science Education Reform, emphasized that the center would provide ongoing teacher training and support rather than one-time workshops. She said existing infrastructure would allow the center to begin operations immediately upon funding.

Committee members expressed strong support for the initiative. Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, noted that science education has become far more critical to Kentucky's economic competitiveness since Todd began his tenure at UK. Committee co-chair Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, urged legislators to review upcoming test score data to assess science proficiency gaps in their districts.

"We've got a lot of schools in the state where the science proficiency is under 10 percent. We've got a lot of work to do," Tipton said.

Sen. Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, offered broader criticism of Kentucky's approach to science education, suggesting the state should integrate science more meaningfully beginning in elementary school rather than treating it as secondary to traditional subjects.