(Oct. 3, 2024) There is overwhelming consensus among local school board members throughout Kentucky that public funds should not be directed to private schools, according to a recent survey by the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA).

The survey was conducted in anticipation of the controversial measure that will appear on Kentucky ballots this fall. Amendment 2, often referred to as the “voucher amendment,” asks voters to decide whether to give state lawmakers broad new authority to direct public tax dollars to private schools.

Of those who responded to the survey, 96% said they oppose allowing public tax dollars to be directed to private education providers, including 92% who “strongly oppose.”

Only 3% said they support using public tax dollars for private education.

“KSBA has been opposed to directing public dollars to nonpublic schools for decades, so this really shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who has followed us over the years,” said KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling. “It’s regularly been one of our annual legislative priorities, particularly during budget sessions, and is one of our guiding principles – all adopted by our board of directors and made public each year.”

Opposition to the amendment by school board members appears to cut cleanly through the political divide. Of the respondents, 51% identified as “Conservative and/or Republican,” 26% identified as “Progressive and/or Democrat,” 9% identified as “Independent,” and 14% preferred not to answer.  

Schelling pointed to policy debates waging in states such as Texas, Tennessee, Ohio and others where there has been similar opposition to legislation introduced to divert public funds to private schools in the form of voucher-style programs.

“Strong public education policy has traditionally been a nonpartisan issue,” she said. “I think that’s why we’re seeing so much bipartisan opposition to this amendment.”

When asked how their communities feel about the amendment, 62% of survey respondents said they believe that a majority of their community members are opposed to it, while only 6% said a majority of their community members support the measure. Another 25% did not know how the majority of their communities feel, while 6% believe the majority of their communities are unsure.  

Schelling notes the important correlation between the views of school board members and those of the people they serve.

“School board members are a powerful bellwether of how citizens feel about their local public schools,” Schelling said. “As the officials elected closest to their constituents, they understand how policies impact students in their local communities.”

The survey also found that 97% respondents are following the Amendment 2 issue (including 74% who are following the issue “closely”), while 98% of respondents believe the issue is “very important.”

Results of the survey are based on 174 school board member responses (or 20% of the school board seats in Kentucky). Responses include individuals representing at least 105 school districts. The survey, administered electronically, was open to members between Sept. 6 – 19.

Currently, Kentucky’s constitution prohibits the use of public tax dollars to fund private schools and other nonpublic education providers, as recently demonstrated by court decisions striking down legislation that attempted to do so.

Amendment 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment that will appear on Kentucky ballots during the 2024 general election. The amendment resulted from the passage of House Bill 2 during the 2024 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Voters will decide whether to change Kentucky’s constitution to give the state legislature authority to send public funds to schools “outside the system of common (public) schools.” As written, Amendment 2 seeks to create exceptions for seven sections of the Kentucky Constitution and allow public dollars to fund private schools and other private education providers.

Voting “No” supports keeping Kentucky’s constitution as is, maintaining that public funds can only be used for public schools, while a “Yes” vote supports suspending seven sections of the constitution and giving the legislature new power to direct tax dollars to nonpublic schools (such as private schools, religious schools, home schools, charter schools, etc.).

The amendment will appear on the ballots as follows:

View/download KSBA’s helpful Amendment 2 information sheet that provides amendment language, constitutional impact, recent legislative history, terminology and more.

KSBA released an opposition statement on Amendment 2 this past summer, and Schelling penned an op-ed in April following the passage of House Bill 2, which put Amendment 2 on the ballot.

 

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The Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) was established in 1936 and represents 857 school board members in 171 districts across Kentucky. As the Commonwealth’s leading advocate for public school boards, KSBA empowers local districts through superior support, service and training.