Education has dominated the Kentucky General Assembly for the past decade, but the 2001 session, which begins in January, has little to offer.

        Few education bills have been pre-filed so far, but those already on the table vary from teaching the Bible to dropping sales taxes on school supplies.

        Here's a look:

        • Parents could get a break on back-to-school costs if the General Assembly passes a bill filed by Reps. Robert Damron, D-Nicholasville, and Carolyn Belcher, D-Preston.

        It would exempt clothing, school supplies and computers sold during the last week of August from sales and use taxes.

        • Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, has introduced another twist on posting the Ten Commandments.

        Mr. Stumbo's bill would allow schools to offer elective courses in history, religion or other subjects that use scriptural texts, such as the Bible, as instructional materials. It would also permit religious, historical or literary documents appropriate to the course, including the Ten Commandments, to be posted.

        • Rep. Jon Draud, R-Crestview Hills, wants every region to have an organization like Northern Kentucky's Council of Partners.

        The group of school superintendents, public- and private-college administrators, and business and community representatives is aimed at aligning educational services from preschool through college.

        The group was used as a model for Kentucky's statewide P-16 Council, created in 1999. Mr. Draud has filed a bill to set up regional P-16 councils.

        He estimated the councils would cost about $80,000 each, however, if the bill passes this year, the General Assembly could wait until 2002 to fund the councils, he said.

        • A bill has resurfaced aimed at making students show respect to teachers.

        Rep. Jodie Haydon, D-Bardstown, has again filed a bill to require public schoolchildren to address school employees as “sir” or “ma'am” and use courtesy titles.

        The bill, modeled after a similar law in Louisiana, was introduced during the 2000 session but never made it out of the House Education Committee.

        • Rep. Ron Crimm, R-Louisville, has filed a bill to allow school districts, colleges, universities and state education departments to run credit checks on prospective or current finance officers or other employees who deal with money.

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