FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) — A new Kentucky law changes reading instruction and strengthens rules for handling employee misconduct involving students.

House Bill 253 requires districts to eliminate reading curricula and programs using the three-cueing system by the 2029-30 school year. The bill defines three-cueing as teaching students to read through meaning, sentence structure and visual cues.

Districts must instead use scientifically researched strategies with proven results in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Early childhood through fifth-grade educators must complete science-of-reading training by June 30, 2029. Districts and state agencies may not provide professional development using three-cueing.

The law also prohibits school districts and charter schools from entering nondisclosure agreements involving misconduct with a student or minor.

Former school employers must disclose disciplinary action and resulting resignation or termination involving abusive conduct when another district requests information about an applicant. Applicants with a finding of abusive conduct are ineligible for hire, while employees may be dismissed or terminated.

The law took effect immediately when it was signed April 10.