Around the HC hallways, student-made posters can be found which detail the effects of Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment appearing on the Kentucky ballot next month. Kentucky’s State Constitution only allows the General Assembly to fund the common (public) schooling system for grades K-12, while state funding of charter and private schools is not authorized. Amendment 2 proposes that the General Assembly may fund education outside of the public school system using tax dollars. While some embrace the broadened education opportunities for students, others fear that Amendment 2 will come at the expense of quality public education.
Amendment 2 would allow the General Assembly to fund education outside of the public school system, regardless of breaching various sections of Kentucky’s Constitution. Section 171 of Kentucky’s Constitution requires that taxes be collected for public purposes only. Additionally, Section 186 states that education funding should be used exclusively to maintain Kentucky’s public schools. These constitutional violations, along with the negligence of five other sections (59, 60, 183, 184, and 189), have created controversy regarding the exceptions to constitutional provisions made by Amendment 2.
Advocates for school choice include Republican State Senators Donald Douglas, Damon Thayer, Steve West, and Republican State Representative Jared Bauman. Such congressmen have made arguments supporting Amendment 2 in Kentucky, claiming that Kentucky should provide some form of school choice like the versions seen in surrounding states. Voters who support Amendment 2 would select “yes” on the ballot, which supports amending the State Constitution and allowing the General Assembly to provide state funding for non-public schools.
Opponents of Amendment 2 include Democratic State Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, and Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Organizations in opposition to Amendment 2 include Kentucky Council for Better Education and the Kentucky Education Association. Arguments made by the opposing party detail their disapproval of funding unaccountable private institutions using tax dollars, making exceptions to the Constitution, and cutting public school’s access to financial resources. Voters who oppose Amendment 2 would select “no” on the ballot, which opposes amending the State Constitution and denies the General Assembly the power to fund non-public schools.
School board members around the state of Kentucky have made various statements regarding Amendment 2; “Public funds belong with public schools,” Gallatin County School Board Member Beck Burgett said, “where every child from every background is welcomed and encouraged to learn and excel … it is our duty as school board members to educate the public on the consequences of this amendment’s passage.”
Voter registration can be completed online in Kentucky. Voting on Amendment 2 will be held on November 5.
