By Elise DeYoung
The School Choice movement has taken the United States by storm as hundreds of Republican legislatures from sea to shining sea are pushing to pass school choice legislation in their states.
The aim of school choice is to support a parent’s right to choose where they send their children to school by funding that choice using taxpayer money. A popular slogan used by the movement that you may have heard is “Fund students, not systems.” Policies like voucher programs and Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) all collect taxpayer funds, redistribute them, and use those funds to pay for public and private school options.
Ballotpedia reports, “As of 2024, 14 states had enacted ESA programs. Programs in six statesāFlorida, Iowa, Utah, West Virginia, Arizona, and Arkansas, and North Carolinaācovered all or most students.” Currently, state legislators in Kentucky are working to add their state to the list.
Amendment 2
On January 26 of this year, State Representative Suzanne Miles (R-7) introduced Amendment 2 to the legislature. On March 13, the measure rapidly passed in the House with a 65-32 vote; on March 15, it passed in the Senate with a 27-8 vote majority.
In Kentucky, after the legislature passes an amendment measure, it is put on the ballot for the people to vote on. This vote will take place on November 5, 2024. Before this day arrives, it is crucial that we educate ourselves on the amendment and its implications.
Amendment 2 states, “The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, and 189 of this Constitution notwithstanding.”
To view Kentucky’s current state constitution, visit this link.
When explaining the immediate effects of Amendment 2, Attorney and Former Kentucky Solicitor General Chad Meredith explained in a debate with KET.org,
“This amendment does not make any policy… All this [amendment] does is it puts the ball in the court of the legislature to make policy. If the legislature decides to make vouchers, then we will have a system like that. If they don’t, we won’t. This amendment has nothing to do with vouchers.
All this amendment does is it sets the stage for the legislature to be able to make education policy, unfettered of any restrictions that were put on it in the 1890’s.”
It is important to recognize the truth in Mr. Meredith’s words when he says, “This amendment does not make any policy.” In fact, it does not. However, when we hear him say, “All this amendment does is it sets the stage for the legislature to be able to make education policy, unfettered of any restrictions,” we should be very wary.
Before you vote, please consider the immediate and permanent implications that this amendment would invite and answer the following questions:
- Is it wise to remove the guardrails on education policy?
- Should Kentucky vote to open the floodgates to a voucher program?
A Warning to Kentucky
Though the amendment does not pass School Choice legislation, we must acknowledge that it welcomes the creation of such policy in Kentucky. If you are unfamiliar with the issue of School Choice and the effects it has had on other states, here are a few resources to look into before you vote on Amendment 2:
- Weaponizing “School Choice” To Control ALL Education, Alex Newman
- School Choice, Schoolhouse Rocked
- Vouchers, School Choice, and Your Child’s Tuition
- Op-ed: Kentucky Should Vote No on Amendment 2 by Robert Bortins
The truth is that using public funds for private education is not only legislative malpractice but also dangerous because with public funding comes public oversight. We have seen this movie beforeāconsider how the government now oversees public healthcare, farming, and universities. This is because these industries accepted the government check, and now, they are under government control.
Do we want this to happen in our private schools and homeschools? I think you would resolutely agree with Classical ConversationsĀ® when we argue no. We want to keep our education independence! So, we must reject the use of public funds for private education before it is too late.
Protect Education Independence in November!
Thankfully, if you live in Kentucky, you still have the ability to vote down this attempt to alter your state constitution to unfettered School Choice policy in your state. Educate yourself on Amendment 2 before November 5, share this urgent information with your friends and family, and go prepared on November 5 to protect education independence in your state.
For more information, visit Ballotpedia.
Elise DeYoung is a Public Relations and Communications Associate and a Classical ConversationsĀ®graduate. With CC, she strives to know God and to make Him known in all aspects of her life. She is a servant of Christ, an avid reader, and a professional nap-taker. As she continues her journey towards the Celestial City, she is determined to gain wisdom and understanding wherever it can be found. Soli Deo gloria!