Kentucky school security camera law

Does Kentucky require cameras in schools?

Yes, at the main entrance. Each local board of education must require the school council, or the principal if there is no council, in each school building to carry out a list of safety duties. One duty is to develop and follow practices that control access to each school building. Those practices must include controlling the main entrance with electronically locking doors, a camera and an intercom system. All schools must comply with these access-control provisions. Public charter schools must follow the same health and safety requirements as all public schools.

Who checks, and by when?

By November 1 of each school year, the superintendent must verify to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) that all schools in the district comply. A district with a school not in compliance with the access-control provisions by July 1, 2022 is not eligible for KDE approval of new building construction or expansion, apart from listed exceptions. The state school security marshal's office conducts on-site reviews to check compliance with these duties, which include the main-entrance camera. The marshal's 2025-26 annual report shows 1,332 schools (100%) answering yes to "the main entrance of the school is controlled with a camera(s)." The same report recommends installing more cameras to remove blind spots inside and outside school buildings; that is a recommendation, not a requirement.

Does the law give police access to school camera feeds?

The provision that requires the main-entrance camera, KRS 158.162(3)(d), says nothing about giving law enforcement, 911 or any outside agency access to school camera feeds. Bills in 2025 (HB 14) and 2026 (HB 643) would have required a district that buys a wearable panic alert system to make security data, including cameras, accessible to local law enforcement. HB 14 passed the House but died in Senate Education, with its last action on March 7, 2025. HB 643's last action was referral to the Senate Committee on Committees on March 18, 2026, and it was not enacted.

How long must schools keep recordings?

School officials must keep an unedited master copy of any digital, video or audio recordings of school activities for at least one week. Recordings of activities that include, or allegedly include, injury to students or school employees must be kept for at least one month.

Is school video a student record, and who may see it?

Recordings of school activities are subject to the student-record privacy and confidentiality rules of KRS Chapter 160. Student education records in public schools are confidential and may be released only as KRS 160.720 allows. The definition of an education record covers data recorded in any medium, including video. Records that a school's own law enforcement unit creates for law-enforcement purposes are not education records. The Open Records Act (Kentucky's public-records law) exempts records whose release is barred by federal or state law. It also exempts records of a personal nature whose release would be a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Specifications of a public building's security systems are exempt when release would expose a terrorism vulnerability. School security risk assessments are exempt from the Open Records Act.

What about cameras on school buses?

Kentucky's school bus specifications let districts install camera systems on buses to record student, driver or outside vehicle activity. Every new school bus must meet the specifications in effect on its date of manufacture. Under those specifications, bus video equipment must have a time-date generator, automatic focus and an audio input. The camera enclosure must keep the camera from being detected by students or the driver. A district that uses bus video to monitor students must adopt a board policy on the use of surveillance equipment and the discipline that can follow.

What about facial recognition?

A 2024 bill, SB 180, would have restricted facial recognition technology generally, not just in schools. It never left the Senate Judiciary Committee; its last action was referral there on February 8, 2024.

How can schools pay for it?

The 2026-28 state budget gives the Center for School Safety $15,000,000 in each fiscal year; the money is not earmarked for cameras. That money may be used at both public and private schools.

What camera bills failed recently?

2026 SB 332 would have required districts to install and maintain video and audio surveillance in every self-contained special education classroom. Its last action was referral to the Senate Committee on Committees on March 2, 2026, and it was not enacted. 2026 HB 791 was a House version of the same special education classroom camera bill. Its last action was referral to House Primary and Secondary Education on March 9, 2026, and it was not enacted. 2026 HB 643 would also have required approved panic alert systems to be able to take in school safety camera and video data on a single interface. 2025 SB 31 would only have directed KDE to consider requiring interior cameras on new school buses bought on or after July 1, 2026. Its last action was referral to Senate Transportation on January 9, 2025, and it was not enacted.