{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-161.720","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 161.720","heading":"Definitions for teachers' tenure law.","body":"(1) The term \"teacher\" for the purpose of KRS 161.730 to 161.810 shall mean any\nperson for whom certification is required as a basis of employment in the public\nschools of the state, with the exception of the superintendent.\n(2) The term \"year\" as applied to t erms of service means actual service of not less than\nseven (7) school months within a school year; provided, however, that any board of\neducation may grant a leave of absence for professional advancement or military\nleave for active duty service with full credit for service.\n(3) The term \"limited contract\" shall mean a contract for the employment of a teacher\nfor a term of one (1) year only or for that portion of the school year that remains at\nthe time of employment.\n(4) The term \"continuing service contract\" shall mean a contract for the employment of\na teacher which shall remain in full force and effect until:\n(a) The teacher resigns or retires;\n(b) The contract is terminated or suspended as provided in KRS 161.790 and\n161.800; or\n(c) For contracts enter ed into on or after July 1, 2019, the teacher begins\nemployment in a district -level administrative position in a county school\ndistrict in a county with a consolidated local government adopted under KRS\nChapter 67C. For purposes of this section and KRS 161 .730 to 161.810,\n\"district-level administrative position\" means an administrative position in a\nlocal school district that has administrative -level duties and responsibilities\nthat are not limited to one (1) school in the district.\n(5) The term \"continuing  status\" means employment of a teacher under a continuing\ncontract.\n(6) The term \"standard\" or \"college\" certificate for the purpose of KRS 161.730 to\n161.810 shall mean any certificate issued upon the basis of graduation from a\nstandard four (4) year coll ege or completion of a local district alternative\ncertification training program.\n(7) The term \"superintendent\" for the purpose of KRS 161.765 shall mean the school\nofficer appointed by a board of education under the authority of KRS 160.350 or\nany person authorized by law to perform the duties of that officer.\n(8) The term \"administrator\" for the purpose of KRS 161.765 shall mean a certified\nemployee, below the rank of superintendent, who devotes the majority of his or her\nemployed time to service as a pri ncipal, assistant principal, supervisor, coordinator,\ndirector, assistant director, administrative assistant, finance officer, pupil personnel\nworker, guidance counselor, school psychologist, or school business administrator.\nThe term \"administrator\" shall  also include those assistant, associate, or deputy\nsuperintendents who do not fall within the definition of \"superintendent\" as set forth\nin subsection (7) of this section.\n(9) The terms \"demote\" or \"demotion\" for the purpose of KRS 161.765 shall mean a\nreduction in rank from one (1) position on the school district salary schedule to a\ndifferent position on that schedule for which a lower salary is paid. The terms shall\nnot include lateral transfers to positions of similar rank and pay or minor alterations\nin pay increments required by the salary schedule.","path":["KRS Chapter 161"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=48753","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:11Z","sha256":"ea5ddfd8acb714d78abd4c568f103a5e2b37ce88987aa33f63d09712511e7acd","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-161.716","next":"us-ky/krs-161.721"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}