I will vote no on Amendment 2. This is why:
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Public money for private schools will largely benefit families with much higher household incomes. In Kentucky, the median income is $96,100 for a household in public school and $148,400 or 54% higher for a household in private school. In short, most families with students in public schools will not be able to afford the high costs of private schools, even with the voucher.
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Private schools know no boundaries when it comes to discrimination. They may refuse to admit children with disabilities or special learning needs.
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Kentucky’s poorest school districts would suffer disproportionately. If the vouchers were the size of the state of Florida, some of our poorest counties would see cuts of more than 20%.
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Private schools have no supervision over their educational performance.
A yes vote in November will undermine Kentucky’s constitutional commitment to public education. It will lead to policies that widen geographic, income, and racial disparities already straining Kentucky communities; shifting public money to unaccountable private schools; and weaken education for all. Kentucky voters have good reason to worry about the aftermath if the amendment passes.
Please join me in voting no for all Kentuckians.
—Silas Hart, 40383
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This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Letters: Private schools have no limits on discrimination
