News Release
For information contact: Melissa Forsythe or Mark Pfeiffer
Thursday, April 02, 1998

Kentucky children will start earning scholarship money for college when they enter high school next year under a bill Governor Paul Patton signed into law today. Senate Bill 21 establishes the Commonwealth Scholarship Program, enabling those high school students who maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average to earn state scholarship money to Kentucky institutions of postsecondary education. Governor Patton said, "This will be an added incentive for our young people to pursue their education, and the grants will help them devote those four years of college to learning."

Kentucky teachers will receive guaranteed annual cost of living increases under HB 469, which Governor Paul Patton signed into law today. In a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, Governor Patton, surrounded by fourth graders from Jefferson County, said, "I believe this is one of the most significant pieces of legislation in this session. This guarantees that teachers will get an automatic cost of living adjustment in their wages to account for inflation. It’s not a raise. We’re ensuring that teachers will maintain their purchasing power or won’t take a pay cut. Teaching is the most important profession in this society. " The governor said it’s important that children understand that if they choose to become teachers, government will treat them right. "Hopefully this will be a message to young people that Kentuckians value teachers", he said. The governor had pushed for the COLA provision for two years.

The governor signed into law another important administration initiative today, that helps poor children . The Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program Act, Senate Bill 128, which provides $13 million in state funds to secure $50 million in federal aid for children of the working poor to access health benefit coverage. "Children represent about 20% of our population but 100% of our future", the governor said. "We want to make sure that not only are Kentucky’s children educated, but they also have health care."

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