Exactly what form the House Bill 563 will take in the Senate remains to be seen and will be key in the bill’s path through the final days of the 2021 General Assembly.

The Kentucky Association of Professional Educators supported a bill last year that prompted "sickouts" by about a dozen school districts and that would have given it control of one seat on the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System board.

The debate over scholarship tax credits will continue in next year's legislative session, and supporters believe backing from House GOP leaders will only help its chances of becoming law.

Charissa "Chris" Cooke claimed she was fired for protesting at the Capitol and for her connections to the education advocacy group KY 120 United.

Over the past two years, teachers from across Kentucky have flooded the state capitol and emerged as a noticeable and controversial lobbying force. Led by a group called KY 120 United, educators last year swarmed the statehouse to protest sweeping pension reforms and, eventually, Gov. Matt Bevin’s budget vetoes.

An amended version of House Bill 525, passed on a 12-5 vote with a single “pass” vote. The legislation prompted hundreds of teachers to call out sick so they could protest the measure.