This November, Kentucky faces a critical choice. Amendment 2 would change Kentucky’s Constitution to allow state funding for non-public education, including charter and private schools. Currently, only public schools receive such funding.

Supporters of this amendment will tell you that this gives parents a choice in their children’s education and that vouchers make public schools better when they compete for our dollars, but this simply isn’t the case.

Here’s why we need to vote no:

1. Vouchers take money from already underfunded public schools. Studies show most voucher users (65%-90%) already attend private schools. This gives families who can already afford private education a discount while leaving less for public school students.

2. It’s incredibly expensive. In Florida, a similar program diverts 30% of the education budget to private schools. If Kentucky follows suit, it could cost our public schools (including schools in districts without private schools) millions of dollars and thousands of jobs, severely impacting education quality.

3. Rural and poorer areas would suffer most. A report by KyPolicy found that a voucher system could disproportionately affect counties where property values generate less property tax revenue for schools. While Kentucky’s wealthiest public school district would only have to reduce its budget by 6% under the Florida model, eight county school districts and six independent school districts would face budget cuts of at least 20%.

Public education is our communities’ backbone, giving every kid a chance to succeed regardless of background. Weakening public schools undermines equal opportunity for all Kentucky children.

Our schools need more support, not less. Protect our public schools and Kentucky’s future. Vote NO on Amendment 2.

Julie Howlett

Bowling Green