Opinion: Kentucky students deserve the same opportunities as those in other states

Written by Michael Brickman, director of education policy at the Cicero Institute and adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute

Children have different needs and families deserve different options.  Unfortunately, Kentucky provides parents with fewer educational choices than just about any other state.  No matter where you live, wealthy families can pay for private schools or buy a home in an area with a public school they like.  Families with fewer resources generally have fewer choices.  

But in most states, a growing number of low- and middle-income students are having new doors opened to them because they can now attend public charter schools or private schools.  Amendment 2 paves the way for Kentucky’s children to have those opportunities too.  The question before Kentucky voters comes at a critical time: Kentucky’s reading and math scores have dropped substantially since COVID.  In the State of Educational Opportunity in America: A Survey of 20,000 parents” from 50CAN and Edge Research, 40% of Kentucky’s parents feel like they do not have a choice when it comes to their child’s education. That is worse than the national average. Clearly, a new approach is needed.

This should not be a partisan issue. In blue and red states across America, school choice and public school systems coexist and are mutually beneficial.  In Washington, DC, about as many children attend charter schools as traditional district schools.  Unfortunately, some loud voices are misleading voters, demanding that they choose sides between public schools and school choice.  But Kentuckians can have both. 

This is because, as in all other walks of life: A bit of competition forces improvement.  In areas with more choice, traditional public schools have become more effective and accountable because they realize that, if they fail, their families can go somewhere else.  

In just the past few years, new forms of educational choice have empowered parents and strengthened communities by ensuring that every child’s needs can be met.  Educational freedom initiatives also translate into better student performance outcomes. If structured properly, Kentucky can ensure that these programs cost taxpayers less per student. Today, each state bordering Kentucky has both public and private school choice programs. Kentucky has neither.

It is not for lack of trying.  Kentucky recently attempted to expand school choice through the creation of a charter school program, something nearly every state in the nation has today.  Unfortunately, the program was struck down by the state Supreme Court due to an out-of-date provision in the state’s constitution.

Kentuckians have an opportunity to right this wrong.  Their ballots this November will ask them to decide whether to expand these opportunities to Kentucky children.  Question 2 will give the General Assembly permission to “provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools.”  Such a policy will open the door to responsible choice programs that benefit the state’s schools and economy.

The truth is that no single school can effectively meet every child’s needs and parents should have options and the opportunity to choose the best fit for their child.  Kentucky can benefit the most children by strongly supporting public schools for those who want to attend, while offering options to those who need them.  

Mr. Brickman is director of education policy at the Cicero Institute and adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He served as a senior adviser in the U.S. Education Department, 2017-21.