LOUISVILLE — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul today asked proponents of charter schools to talk about the advantages those schools offer families.

“It’s your money,” said Paul, R-Bowling Green. “You should be able to take it where you want to.”

Charter schools have fewer rules and more freedom, and it’s important to get the students’ parents involved, Paul said during the Kentucky Charter School Association Education Summit at the Muhammad Ali Center.

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate independently and are held accountable for promises made in their charters. Kentucky is one of eight states that do not have charter schools.

Paul joined Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and state Senate Education Chairman Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, in a room full of people as the Kentucky Charter School Association began another push to get charter school legislation through the General Assembly.

“There is no more important issue than this,” McConnell said, adding, “Are our young people ready to compete?”

McConnell said it is a “sad commentary” that the school system in his home county, Jefferson County, was described earlier this year by Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday as committing “academic genocide,” a reference to the district’s low-achieving schools.

“This is a genuine crisis,” McConnell said.

Wilson pointed out that the state Senate had continued to pass charter school legislation only to see it die in the Democratic-controlled House. 

“This is not a Democrat issue. This is not a Republican issue. This is a citizen’s issue,” Wilson said.

State Rep. Brad Montell, R-Shelbyville, introduced a charter schools bill in the House last session and it didn’t get a hearing.

“I’m appreciative of the hard work of Senator Mike Wilson, the chair of the Education Committee, for getting this bill through the state Senate. And Representative Brad Montell has brought a charter school bill before the state House four years in a row and will keep fighting this year. I hope more state lawmakers will aid their efforts,” McConnell said in a release.

Nina Rees, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, said that organization’s polls indicate 72 percent of Kentuckians want charter schools.

— Daily News education reporter Chuck Mason will update this story throughout the day.