spot_imgspot_img

Kentucky voters reject school choice amendment

spot_img

(The Center Square) – Kentucky voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have opened the door for school choice programs across the state.

The Associated Press called the referendum on Amendment 2 at 8:42 pm ET. With 70% of the votes counted, votes against the measure were defeating yes votes by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Partial results have been reported in more than 80 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, and votes against the measure were ahead in each of those.

If approved, the amendment would have allowed the General Assembly to pass laws allowing the state to give families funding for educating their children outside of their public school district.

Critics, including school district educators and leaders, attacked the measure, saying it would create a voucher program and take funding from school districts.

Tuesday’s vote is the latest defeat for school choice proponents across Kentucky. The Republican-led General Assembly passed reforms in 2021 that would have established educational opportunity accounts that private individuals and businesses could have funded up to $25 million and received tax credits for their contributions. Those funds would have then been made available through educational opportunity accounts that would have allowed eligible families to use those funds toward paying for private schools, out-of-district public schools or other school-related costs.

State courts ruled the 2021 law and a subsequent attempt in 2022 as unconstitutional since Kentucky’s constitution prohibits the use of tax funds for private schools. As a result of those rulings, Republican legislators pushed for the constitutional amendment proposal in this year’s session.

“This is a resounding win for public education, one that we hope will finally stop efforts to route tax dollars into vouchers that other states are showing are both a financial and academic failure,” the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus leadership said in a statement. “There are more than 630,000 public school students – and tens of thousands of teachers and other school employees – who count on us as legislators to give them our undivided attention. It’s time we do that, and that includes budgeting every single dollar that Amendment #2’s supporters were ready to spend on vouchers.”

Some school choice supporters argued superintendents and other public school officials were using district resources to campaign against the measure, which violated state law. State Attorney General Russell Coleman issued an opinion in response, saying the anti-amendment statements were not a proper use of public funds and resources.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Missouri delegation focusing on border security after brief with OLS Task Force

(The Center Square) – A Missouri delegation is focusing...

IRS data shows ‘Blue State Exodus’ over past 30 years

(The Center Square) – Millions of residents in blue...

Tacoma approves 2025-2026 budget with added fire funding

(The Center Square) – The City of Tacoma passed...

Landry establishes fiscal responsibility program

(The Center Square) − Gov. Jeff Landry has signed...

Op-Ed: Preserve de minimis for America’s small businesses

Supporting small businesses should be a top policy priority...

TCJA debate: Lawmakers weigh small business, family finances with national debt

Although a recent Congressional Budget Office analysis predicts that...

Bellevue approves land purchase for $19.1M to preserve city’s natural space

(The Center Square) – The Bellevue City Council showed...

More like this
Related

Missouri delegation focusing on border security after brief with OLS Task Force

(The Center Square) – A Missouri delegation is focusing...

IRS data shows ‘Blue State Exodus’ over past 30 years

(The Center Square) – Millions of residents in blue...

Tacoma approves 2025-2026 budget with added fire funding

(The Center Square) – The City of Tacoma passed...

Landry establishes fiscal responsibility program

(The Center Square) − Gov. Jeff Landry has signed...