State Senate takes final step in giving voters the chance to support educational freedom for Kentucky families

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 15, 2024

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The state Senate’s approval this morning of a proposed constitutional amendment will give voters the opportunity to remove the remaining legal barriers to Kentucky families having the same kind of educational opportunities available in most other states. The Kentucky House of Representatives approved the measure on Wednesday.

“It’s important to understand what passage of this constitutional amendment would – and would not – do,” said Bluegrass Institute President Jim Waters. “Passage of this amendment would not determine Kentucky’s specific school-choice policy; rather, it simply clarifies that nothing in the Constitution prevents lawmakers from creating and funding such policies.”

The question that voters will answer:

To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?

If approved by voters, the following language will be added to our state’s Constitution:

The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186 and 189 of this Constitutional notwithstanding.

It will be up to legislators to debate and decide Kentucky’s education-choice policies during future legislative sessions, Waters said.

“The Bluegrass Institute and our school-choice coalition looks forward to engaging and informing voters to remove the obstacles that will allow lawmakers to create policies that give parents the opportunity to ensure all children have access to the education that best fits their need and positions them for a lifetime of success,” Waters said.

For additional comment or more information, please contact Jim Waters at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com, 270.320.4376 (cell).