Coleman v. Board of Education

In 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 1, which restructured the relationship between Jefferson County’s board of education and its school superintendent. The bill required the board to delegate day-to-day operations to the superintendent, limited the board’s meeting frequency, and granted the superintendent additional administrative powers. The board filed a declaratory judgment action, claiming the bill violated Sections 59 and 60 of the Kentucky Constitution, which prohibit local or special legislation. 

The Kentucky Supreme Court originally upheld the legislation, reasoning that its text created an open classification applicable to any county with a consolidated local government, not just Jefferson County. The court also found that the Board had standing to challenge the bill and that the superintendent was not a necessary party to the action. 

After rehearing the case, the Kentucky high court modified its prior decision and struck down the law. The court held that because the legislation was focused on only one county without an articulable reasonable basis, it violated the state constitutional prohibition against local or special legislation.