Protect our public schools and taxpayers: Vote No on Amendment 2. | Opinion

As Kentuckians, we take pride in our communities and the institutions that support them. At the heart of every thriving Kentucky town is a strong public school system. But this November, we face a critical decision — and making the wrong choice could undermine the very foundation of our educational system. Amendment 2 on the ballot proposes to change our state constitution to allow taxpayers’ money to fund vouchers for private education outside the public school system, with no oversight or accountability for those private schools.

Who stands to benefit? Amendment 2’s supporters say vouchers help move kids into “better” private options. But data from states that already have gambled on school voucher programs show that 75% or more of the students receiving these publicly funded vouchers already were in private schools. The average income for a Kentucky family with kids in private school is $148,000. Do these families really need taxpayer money to subsidize their choice? And do taxpayers want to fund an educational curriculum they can’t assess?

The cost of voucher programs also tends to spiral out of control. Arizona’s voucher program, launched in 2022, is now projected to cost $950 million next year—$320 million more than budgeted. Kentucky simply can’t afford this kind of runaway spending.

Here’s who stands to lose when state government siphons taxpayer money off to pay for private-school vouchers: Kentucky’s students, employers, and, ultimately, average citizens like you and me, because we all do better when there’s an educated local workforce and a flourishing economy. Amendment 2 poses big risks to that.

First, vouchers drain vital resources from our public schools. Kentucky already struggles to properly fund education, ranking 40th in the nation for per-student spending. Diverting money to private schools through vouchers would mean even less funding for the schools that serve the vast majority of our kids. This translates into larger class sizes, fewer programs, and potentially lost jobs for teachers and staff. That, in turn, makes it harder for Kentucky’s bright young citizens to reach their full educational potential, consequences that have negative implications for Kentucky’s long-term economic outlook.

And rural communities would be hit hard. Most of Kentucky’s private schools are located in or around urban areas, meaning voucher money would stream out of rural counties, leaving local public schools even more strapped for cash. Our rural schools are often the heart of their communities and are engines for ideas, training, and entrepreneurship—we can’t afford to weaken them.

Let’s bring this home to Fayette County. If Kentucky implemented a voucher program similar to, say, Florida’s, the impact would be devastating, according to the independent Kentucky Center for Economic Policy: an 8% smaller budget for our public schools, 380 educator jobs cut, and more than $52 million in funding lost for Kentucky students.

That’s money taken directly from our kids’ classrooms and given to private schools with no strings attached. Private schools aren’t required to follow the same curriculum standards, assessment practices, or anti-discrimination policies as public schools. Is that really how we want our tax dollars spent?

Our Kentucky Constitution currently protects us from these harmful voucher schemes. Amendment 2 would remove that protection, opening the floodgates to policies that weaken our public schools.

Public education is the key to opportunity for all Kentuckians the backbone of our democracy. It’s where our children learn not just reading and math, but how to be good citizens and neighbors. It’s where our communities come together, regardless of background or belief.

This November, we have a chance to stand up for our public schools and the values they represent. Vote NO on Amendment 2. Protect our kids, our teachers, and our communities. Keep public money in public schools, where it belongs. Kentucky’s future depends on it.

Glenye Cain Oakford is a writer, editor, and multimedia content producer who has lived in Lexington since 1991.