School Choice was on the ballot this past November in Kentucky. The measure was aimed to amend the Constitution, allowing public funds for private education. The amendment read: “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 Constitution notwithstanding.” Voters shut it down—65% voted “No,” and it failed in every county.
Public school advocates, including the teachers’ union, celebrated. They’ve fought to keep taxpayer dollars locked into public schools. However, they may have overlooked a big issue: Federal education funds don’t follow state rules. The new administration is pushing hard for school choice. Ohio’s incoming Senator Moreno even mentioned plans to dismantle the Department of Education, aligning with President-elect Trump’s promise to “close” it.
Trump made his stance clear: “We want federal education dollars to follow the student, rather than propping up a bloated and radical bureaucracy in Washington, D.C. We want to close the federal Department of Education.” Complete closure may be a stretch, but expect a leaner, less powerful department. This would cut funding and limit the influence of special interests and biased factional interests. With the dollars following the students, the competition for those dollars will encourage focusing on the students and their needs and the parents’ wants.
Kentucky now faces a dilemma. Federal dollars linked to school choice might bypass the state without a legal workaround. If the amendment had passed, Kentucky’s legislature could have aligned with federal programs seamlessly. Instead, local districts may lose these funds, creating serious budget gaps. The mantra of public school advocates was “Public money for public schools, period.” This stance could backfire if Kentucky gets blocked from federal school choice dollars.
Opponents say private school students don’t deserve tax dollars. This narrow view could have unintended effects. Kentucky schools could face cuts if federal funds are set aside for school choice. This might force districts to slash bloated administrative pay, reduce non-essential programs, and tighten spending.
And, of course, let us ponder the financial and education demands heaved upon local schools by the Biden Administration border policies with so many non-citizen immigrant children who must be educated, which is compounded by language and cultural difficulties.
This is no mere speculation. Past efforts to promote school choice in Kentucky have faced legal roadblocks. A 2021 law giving tax credits for private school scholarships was struck down, and a 2022 charter school funding proposal met the same fate. Sen. Damon Thayer states that the failed amendment would have allowed the legislature to pass similar laws. Thayer called the fears about harming public and rural schools “flat-out wrong,” pointing out that these problems haven’t arisen in other states.
Despite substantial spending increases over the past few decades, educational outcomes could have been better. The U.S. Department of Education’s budget has ballooned since its start in the Carter era, but our students lag internationally in reading, math, and science.
Kentucky voters may have rejected this amendment, but the issue is far from over. Federal policy shifts toward school choice will continue, and Kentucky may face a rough path if it doesn’t change course. It’s time to rethink who benefits from education dollars—schools or students.
And Kentucky will not be the only state in this looming financial drought.