Kentucky superintendents agree: Amendment 2 will harm every school district in the state. | Opinion

We are superintendents of public-school districts from across the Commonwealth, large and small, rural and urban, serving more than 340,000 students. We have written this opinion piece to ensure our voices are heard on Amendment 2 before election day.

Kentucky taxpayers, let’s be clear. Amendment 2 is the school voucher amendment. If Kentucky voters approve Amendment 2 in November, it will send your tax dollars to voucher schemes for unaccountable and non-transparent private school programs and harm every public school district in the state.

As public-school educators, we believe that citizens deserve to have all the facts before they make crucial decisions on their child’s future. That’s why we feel it is critical to share the truth about Amendment 2.

Kentuckians have been able to patiently watch what has happened in other states that have implemented school vouchers, and the results are scary. Research has shown that recent voucher programs led to worse student learning loss than COVID. That’s exactly why many states exempt private school voucher students from state testing – so parents can’t see the real quality and success, or lack thereof, of the schools these vouchers pay for.

Meanwhile, these programs cost hundreds of millions, even billions of tax dollars, blowing gaping holes in state budgets across the country to help fund private schools. A study by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy suggests that if a Florida-style voucher program were implemented here, it would divert $1.2 billion to vouchers and away from other programs. Where would that money come from? Similar voucher systems in other states show us these funds would come from the programs that make up the largest share of the state budget now – Medicaid, public safety programs and, of course, public schools.

Why so expensive? Because while you may hear some legislators talk about a small program – focused only on low-income or high-needs students – the truth is that these programs often expand to cover all private school students. In fact, the biggest beneficiaries of these vouchers are families that already send their students to private schools, which in turn raise tuition to match the voucher amount as a money-making venture. In Indiana, Arizona, and other states, more than 70 percent of the students who received vouchers were already enrolled in private schools. In Louisville, the average income of families currently sending their children to private schools is $184,500. Those families could receive checks (vouchers) from Kentucky taxpayers if Amendment 2 passes.

Meanwhile, many states have seen fraudulent companies and grifters set up schools to prey on parents seeking the false promise they offer. They take tax dollars, give little education in return, and then shut down midyear once they’ve made their profit. What happens to those students? They return to public school, academically behind their peers who stayed in public school.

Our public schools educate every student in the community – not just because we are required to, but because that is our purpose and our mission. We don’t discriminate. Students in dire poverty, from troubled backgrounds, racial and ethnic minorities, those who don’t speak English at home – rest assured that private, voucher schools won’t be accepting them, because they require more resources to teach and support. Recent reports in the Courier-Journal illustrate the ways in which private schools will cast aside students who don’t meet their ideal profile and do it under the cover of darkness rather than the sunshine of transparency by which public schools operate.

Public schools are also the best place to find career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow such as skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, allied health and more.

If we want to build Kentucky’s workforce for a brighter future, we need to invest in Kentucky’s PUBLIC schools. The SEEK formula, which provides the bulk of state funding to schools, is $1 billion underfunded compared to 2008 levels. Think of the positive impact our public schools could have with access to those funds! We could recruit STEM and CTE teachers, classroom aides and bus drivers. Districts could repair crumbling buildings, create a stronger curriculum, and expand preschool programs.

Amendment 2 proponents know they have a weak argument when they resort to mistruths and lies. Voting yes for Amendment 2 will NOT increase teacher pay or funding for public schools as stated in TV commercials and recent mailers to Kentucky families. In reality, it will do the exact opposite. It would actively harm the most vulnerable students in our care – the ones who depend most on education as their pathway to a better life.

Our state motto is “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” Voucher programs will only divide Kentuckians into the haves and have nots. Instead, let’s work together to improve our public schools, not abandon them or the students and families who rely on them.

This op ed represents the opinions of the individuals listed herein and do not necessarily represent the views, opinions or positions of any entity or group with which the authors are affiliated. Any statements made are intended as personal opinions and should not be interpreted or construed to represent official positions or endorsements.

Marty Pollio (Jefferson Co.),Jesse Bacon (Bullitt Co.), David Gilliam (Madison Co.),Rob Clayton (Warren Co.),Billy Parker (Scott Co.), Demetrus Liggins (Fayette Co.), Jeff Hauswald (Boone Co.), Mark Kopp (Franklin Co.), Patrick Richardson (Pulaski Co.), Stephen McCauley (Paris Ind.), Reggie Taylor (Owen Co.), Sheila Mitchell (Anderson Co.), Jackie Hawley (Fairview Ind.), Ryan Clark (Bardstown Ind.), Nick Carter (Breckinridge Co.), Mark Wade (Boyle Co.), Barry Lee (Casey Co.), John Slone (Williamstown Ind.), Jason Booher (Mercer Co.), Matt Thompson (Montgomery Co.), Henry Webb (Kenton Co.), Charles Broughton (Daviess Co.), Kyle Estes (Russellville Ind.), Charles Higdon (Taylor Co.), Mike Stacy (Beechwood Ind.), Chad Muhelnkamp (Glasgow Ind.), Danny Adkins (Woodford Co.), Jay Simmons (Carlisle Co.), Chad Molley (Erlanger-Elsmere Ind.), Matt Baker (Walton-Verona Ind.), Mark Martin (Meade Co.), Dan Costellow (Logan Co.), Sara Crum (Jessamine Co.), Robby Asberry (Hancock Co.), Seth Southard (Ohio Co.), Teresa Morgan (Hardin Co.), Diane Hatchett (Berea Ind.), Amy Smith (Hopkins Co.), Adryanne Warren (Larue Co.), John Siler (Whitley Co.), David Cox (Corbin Ind.), Tommy Burrough (McLean Co.) Sheri Satterly (Frankfort Ind.).

This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 10:04 AM.