Kentucky Legislature advances pro-school choice constitutional amendment 

The Kentucky House voted in favor of a pro-school choice measure that would give voters a chance to amend the state constitution.

The House voted 65-32 on Wednesday in favor of HB 2 after a lively floor debate.  

“I would like to see every child in the Commonwealth of Kentucky [have] the very best access and level playing field to seek the ability to live the American dream,” said Rep. Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro, who leads the bill’s 14 Republican sponsors.  

Kentucky policymakers have historically struggled to enact education freedom, in part because of restrictive wording in the state constitution.  

HB 2 would fix that by explicitly allowing the Legislature to fund education “outside the system of common [or public] schools.” 

Opponents of the bill claim it’s an attempt to undermine public education.  

“They [voters] know that this push to use public money on private schools is happening after years of work to defund and delegitimize our public schools,” claimed Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, during the floor debate.  

But co-sponsor and education chairman Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, pointed out the final decision is with the voters. 

“The decision we’re asking today, is do we have faith, do we trust the voters of Kentucky to make a decision?” Tipton asked. “Are we fearful that they may not agree with us? They may not agree with what our particular position is? My vote today is going to be to put my faith and trust in the voters of the commonwealth of Kentucky to make that decision.”  

Several polls have indicated around three quarters of Kentucky voters support the principles of school choice and choice policies. Approval is especially strong among the parents of school children. 

Nevertheless, Kentucky politicians haven’t consistently supported education freedom.  

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman has been openly hostile, not only to school choice policies, but to pro-school choice advocates. 

“I plan on, if it makes it to the ballot, doing everything I can, not just to defeat that amendment [HB 2], but [to] defeat the folks who support it because they are not what’s best for Kentucky’s kids,” Coleman told local media before the House vote. 

Gov. Andy Beshear also opposes the amendment and virtually all forms of education choice, despite sending his own children to private school.