Amendment 2 soundly defeated by Kentucky voters

Kentucky voters overwhelmingly defeated Amendment 2 which would have allowed tax money to be used by private schools.

Amendment 1 easily passed with more than 60 percent of voters giving approval for that measure that proposed adding the language "no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in the state" into sections 145 and 155 of the state constitution.

But Amendment 2 was the most controversial and expensive with a large amount of money spent in support and opposition of the proposal. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green, led the effort in favor and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a former educator, led the opposition of the proposal. They pounded on the idea that tax dollars allocated for education should only go to public schools.

With no election for statewide office on the ballot — and Republican Donald Trump easily carrying Kentucky in the race for the White House — the school-choice measure was the most hotly debated issue of the campaign in Kentucky. Advocates on both sides of the debate ran TV ads and mounted grassroots efforts to make their case.

Amendment 2 asked voters if they wanted to revise the state constitution to let the legislature spend tax dollars on nonpublic education. The defeat means state lawmakers will not be able to fund a "school choice" program, such as charter schools or school vouchers.

School administrators and educators from urban and rural districts spoke out against the proposal, saying public schools would suffer if public funds were shifted to private school education. 

“Kentuckians support their public schools, where 90% of kids attend, and want the legislature to make them the priority,” said Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KyPolicy). “Now that the people have spoken, our leaders should turn their attention to long-needed investments in public education that address the teacher shortage, shrink class sizes and provide universal preschool. Amendment 2 was a last-ditch effort by outside interests to undermine our system of common schools. Tuesday’s vote is an opportunity for Kentuckians to come together and make a fresh commitment to strengthening public education.”    

The Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence also was pleased by the outcome.

President/CEO Brigette Blom said: “Kentuckian Louis Brandeis famously reminded citizens that the most important political office is that of the voter. Today, Kentucky citizens decided the fate of Kentucky’s system of education. Passionate citizens on both sides of this issue made their case, and voters had the final say. The failure of Amendment 2 at the polls is an expression of Kentuckians' commitment to the promise of public education as the great equalizer and a public good—one every Kentucky child should have access to and benefit from.”

Beshear, in a statement on X, said, “Kentucky voters have once again definitively stated that public dollars belong only in public schools. It is time our legislative leaders recognize the will of the people and get serious about ensuring that every Kentucky child gets a world-class public education—that means they should immediately get to work fully funding our public schools, including a raise in educator pay to address the teacher shortage and enacting universal pre-K for every Kentucky four-year-old.” 

Kentucky Students First/Yes on 2 released a statement before the results were tabulated, admitting the amendment appeared to be defeated.

"Our coalition of parents, educators, and concerned Kentuckians fought hard to change the status quo protected by Kentucky’s education special interests," the statement read. "Though the results may not have been in our favor, this campaign has been a powerful force for standing up to the Kentucky education bureaucracy. Perpetuating the low performance of Kentucky’s education system is a disservice to our children and our Commonwealth. Kentucky students deserve better, and our resolve to serve students over systems remains unchanged."  

David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, said on X he was disappointed the proposal failed.

"While I am disappointed in the results of Amendment 2, we will continue to advocate for greater educational opportunities for Kentucky families," Walls said. "An essential part of improving our education system must include increased freedom and choice for Kentucky families and students."