Amendment 2 would stifle equal opportunity, public inputs in our schools. Vote no. | Opinion

As a nonpartisan organization, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky never supports or opposes candidates or political parties. Taking action on issues is not a partisan activity. After thoughtful consideration, the League opposes Amendment 2, the 2024 ballot proposal to change our state Constitution and allow Kentucky tax dollars to be spent on K-12 education outside Kentucky’s public school (or “common school”) system. Amendment 2 cannot be reconciled with the principles that guide League work advocating democracy, public participation, and responsible government.

Here’s the first League Principle that leads us to oppose Amendment 2: “ The League of Women Voters believes every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and no person or group should suffer legal, economic, or administrative discrimination.”

Kentucky public schools provide that equal access for 650,000 students. Public schools provide education to all students regardless of their religion, family income, learning ability or academic performance. They also accommodate students who move into an area after the school year begins, making them a valuable investment for ensuring education access for everyone.

Private schools do not provide equal access to all students. Many limit admissions based on a family’s faith or its ability to pay tuition or a student’s learning needs or grade-point average or test scores. Many also stop admitting students when they reach the enrollment they planned for or pass their application deadline listed in their brochures.

Since Amendment 2 does not build free education with equal opportunity, the League concludes that private schools are not where Kentucky should invest public resources.

Here’s the second LWV Principle that leads to our opposition: “ The League of Women Voters believes efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.”

Amendment 2 is offered without appropriate responsibility for adequate financing.

The cost could easily be huge. Looking to news from other states, we see figures like:

▪ $332 million last year in Arizona (reported June 6 by the Arizona Mirror )

▪ $439 million last year in Indiana (reported May 28 by radio station WFYI )

▪ $145 million or more for a Tennessee voucher plan not approved this year, but priced out based on “20,000 scholarships worth $7,200 for parents to send their kids to private school, costing around $145 million,” according to Tennessee Lookout April 22 reporting .

For Kentucky, here’s a simple estimate to help us imagine the impact of a possible voucher program:

▪ $300 million to provide 50,000 Kentucky vouchers worth $6,000 each.

Of course, both the per-voucher cost and the number of vouchers could be higher, multiplying the cost to taxpayers. The figures used are conservative estimates ($6,000 is a little less than our SEEK formula currently provides per pupil. 50,000 is less than the most recent estimate of Kentucky private school enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics ). Therefore, $300 million might not be enough to subsidize all current private school families.

Any full plan would need to show both eligibility rules and funding limits, and any official action should come after debate and decision-making. But here’s the thing: the people of Kentucky are not being offered that debate. We’re not being shown any version of a price tag. For change this big, the advocates should share their ideas about student counts and dollar totals.

There’s also room for debate and decision-making about how voucher costs will affect our public schools, our overall state expenditures, and our overall state need for revenue. Again, that debate is not happening where Kentucky citizens can participate.

Since Amendment 2 is not supported by sober discussion of financial impacts, the League concludes that the Amendment does not offer a wise step forward.

Accordingly, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky respectfully urges our fellow citizens to VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 2.

Jennifer A. Jackson, M.D., President, League of Women Voters of Kentucky, can be reached at info@lwvky.org .The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.