January 8th proved to be an auspicious day for Kentucky's 2013 legislative session. That's because January 8th was the day Rep. Brad Montell, R-Shelbyville filed a bill that might finally bring school choice and real opportunity for those most in need in the commonwealth - underprivileged kids.

Though 42 states in the nation - most recently Washington state, as of late last year - have already picked that low hanging fruit, Kentucky has yet to take the steps necessary to establish charter school legislation. This is especially galling seeing as how Kentucky consistently ranks as one of the most under-performing states on national standardized tests.

And excuses from educational union bosses and House Education Committee Chair Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, which claim charter schools don't measure up, are becoming thinner by the day. Most recently, reports from the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) found that students in both New Jersey and Indiana have performed better in charter schools than their traditional public school counterparts.

Rep. Montell drives the point home:

“This legislation is designed to finally bring Kentucky into the 21st century in terms of educational opportunities for public school students. Forty-two other states have public charter schools and most are ranked higher in student performance than Kentucky schools. States with the strongest charter school laws are getting the best results. It makes no sense for Kentucky to continue to ban charter schools as an option to improve educational outcomes for students in our Commonwealth."