Outline of the state of Kentucky
State
Kentucky
Required

Category
School Resource Officer Training

Category
School Resource Officer Training

State law requires SROs to complete specialized training to meet the safety needs of the school environment.

Kentucky Revised Statutes 158.441 Definitions for chapter.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Intervention services” means any preventive, developmental, corrective, supportive services or treatment provided to a student who is at risk of school failure, is at risk of participation in violent behavior or juvenile crime, or has been expelled from the school district. Services may include, but are not limited to, screening to identify students at risk for emotional disabilities and antisocial behavior; direct instruction in academic, social, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills; alternative educational programs; psychological services; identification and assessment of abilities; counseling services; medical services; day treatment; family services; work and community service programs; (2) “Kentucky State Police school resource officer” or “KSPSRO” means a Kentucky State Police officer, CVE R Class, or Trooper R Class, as defined in KRS 16.010, who is employed by a school district as a school resource officer, as defined in this section, through a contract as secondary employment for the officer; (5) “School resource officer” or “SRO” means an officer whose primary job function is to work with youth at a school site as described in Section 3 of this Act, who has specialized training to work with youth at a school site pursuant to Section 3 of this Act, and who is:

  • (a)
    1. A sworn law enforcement officer; or
    1. A special law enforcement officer appointed pursuant to KRS 61.902; and
  • (b) Employed:
    1. Through a contract between a local law enforcement agency and a school district;
    1. Through a contract as secondary employment for an officer, as defined in KRS 16.010, between the Department of Kentucky State Police and a school district; or
    1. Directly by a local board of education;
Policy Type
Statute

Kentucky Revised Statutes 158.4414. Cooperation of school personnel with local and state law enforcement agencies in efforts to assign certified school resource officers to each school as funds and personnel become available — Memorandum of understanding between local boards of education and law enforcement agencies or the Kentucky State Police — Policies and procedures stating the purpose of the school resource officer program and defining roles and expectations — Promulgation of administrative regulations establishing levels of training for certification of school resource officers — Course curriculum, specifications for training requirements, and consequences for deficiencies in required training — Officers to regain certification status upon completion of training deficiency — Local school district superintendents to report annually to the Center for School Safety upon the number and placement of school resource officers in the district, source of funding, and methods of employment for each position.

(4) On or before January 1, 2020, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council, in collaboration with the Center for School Safety, shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish three (3) levels of training for certification of school resource officers first employed as a school resource officer on or after March 11, 2019: School Resource Officer Training I (SRO I), School Resource Officer Training II (SRO II), and School Resource Officer Training III (SRO III). Each level shall consist of forty (40) hours of training, with SRO I to be completed within one (1) year of the date of the officer’s employment and SRO II and SRO III within the subsequent two (2) years. (5) Course curriculum for school resource officers employed on or after March 11, 2019, shall include but not be limited to:

  • (a) Foundations of school-based law enforcement;
  • (b) Threat assessment and response;
  • (c) Youth drug use and abuse;
  • (d) Social media and cyber security;
  • (e) School resource officers as teachers and mentors;
  • (f) Youth mental health awareness;
  • (g) Diversity and bias awareness training;
  • (h) Trauma-informed action;
  • (i) Understanding students with special needs; and
  • (j) De-escalation strategies. (6) Effective January 1, 2020, all school resource officers with active certification status shall successfully complete forty (40) hours of annual in-service training that has been certified or recognized by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council for school resource officers. (7) In the event of extenuating circumstances beyond the control of an officer that prevent the officer from completing the in-service training within one (1) year, the commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training or a designee may grant the officer an extension of time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, in which to complete the training. (8) Any school resource officer who fails to successfully complete training requirements within the specified time periods, including any approved time extensions, shall lose his or her school resource officer certification and shall no longer work in a school. (9) When a school resource officer is deficient in required training, the commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training or his or her designee shall notify the council, which shall notify the officer and the officer’s employing agency. (10) A school resource officer who has lost school resource officer certification due solely to the officer’s failure to meet the training requirements of this section may regain certification status as a school resource officer and return to a school setting upon successful completion of the training deficiency.
Policy Type
Statute

Kentucky Revised Statutes 158.4415 Kentucky State Police school resource officer (KSPSRO), specifications for employment as a school resource office by a school district -- When officer considered an employee of the school district and when an employee of the Kentucky State Police -- Duties and prohibited activities -- Funding of position -- Rights, privileges, immunities, and matters of defense protected.

(1) A KSPSRO shall possess sworn law enforcement authority and shall be trained in school-based policing and crisis response including all training required of school resource officers. If a school district decides to utilize a KSPSRO, the school district and the officer shall first enter into a memorandum of understanding that clarifies the purpose of the KSPSRO program and the roles and expectations of the participating entities. Any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection shall include:

  • (a) A provision specifying that the KSPSRO shall follow the policies and procedures of the Department of Kentucky State Police and shall abide by federal, state, and local laws. The responsibility and decision to arrest or take other police action lies solely with the KSPSRO, respective to state law and the KSPSRO’s departmental standard operating procedures or standing order. The KSPSRO’s continual collaboration with school personnel and his or her understanding of each student’s needs may impact the decision to arrest or take other police action, but the responsibility is that of the KSPSRO;
  • (b) A provision stipulating that the KSPSRO shall be an employee of the school district, but shall revert to Department of Kentucky State Police employee status during such time that the KSPSRO takes police action pursuant to state or federal law. The KSPSRO shall be under the immediate supervision and direction of the Department of Kentucky State Police when taking police action;
  • (c) A provision stipulating that the school district shall be responsible for worker’s compensation coverage for the KSPSRO; and
  • (d) A provision detailing how liability coverage will be provided for any acts or omissions of the KSPSRO within the scope of his or her duties.
Policy Type
Statute

Kentucky Revised Statutes 16.128. The Department of Kentucky State Police is encouraged to receive training on issues pertaining to school and student safety, to meet with local superintendents, and to collaborate with local school districts on policies and procedures for communicating any instances of student-involved trauma.

(1) The Department of Kentucky State Police is encouraged to receive training on issues pertaining to school and student safety and shall be invited to meet annually with local superintendents to discuss emergency response plans and emergency response concerns. (2) The Department of Kentucky State Police is encouraged to collaborate with local school districts on policies and procedures for communicating to the school district any instances of trauma-exposed students.

Policy Type
Statute

School Safety and Resiliency Act

This Act affected multiple statutes regarding school safety and student resiliency. 

Policy Type
Non-codified