Kentuckians will have two possible constitutional amendments to consider on their ballot during this November’s General Election, and one of them concerns education dollars.
Amendment 2 on the ballot would ask Kentucky voters if they are in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are educated outside of the public school system.
If approved by the voters, it would make is so the General Assembly could provide financial support for students outside of the public school system—such as private schools. Speaking with Forcht Broadcasting Vice President Amy Stroud recently was Jim Waters with the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy, and he clarified that the amendment does not establish any private or charter schools—it would change to language in the constitution to allow for the allocation of funding.
He says it’s part of the drive for school choice—and he believes Amendment 2 would pave the way for more options for students and parents.
Amendment 2 has faced staunch opposition from those who believe the state shouldn’t be funding private or charter schools, and that educational funding should strictly be for public school systems. A similar matter concerning charter schools and their funding has been argued in court in the past and currently.
Voters will also see Amendment 1 on the ballot—that would ask voters if they are in favor or prohibiting persons who was not citizens of the United States from voting in Kentucky elections. The Kentucky Constitution does already have language concerning the matter, but proponents of the Amendment have argued that the current language is not clear enough.