The national advocacy group Americans for Prosperity on Thursday is hosting a town hall forum with multiple guest speakers addressing Kentucky’s Amendment 2, which will ask voters if they want to give the legislature the ability to fund non-public schools, such as charter and private schools.
The event, being called “The Truth About Amendment 2,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in Owensboro Community and Technical College’s Blandford Hall at 4800 New Hartford Road. The event is free to attend and is open to the public.
Featured speakers include Dr. Gary Houchens, a professor of education administration at Western Kentucky University and former Kentucky Board of Education member; Malcomb Haming, director of grassroots and engagement for Americans for Prosperity; and Kentucky State Senator Gary Boswell (R-Owensboro).
Asked why people should attend and what they can expect to learn, Boswell said in a text message: “Mainly the truth! Why are the anti-choice people afraid to allow parents the right to choose where their kids attend school?”
A release about the event says, “There is a lot of information floating around about Amendment 2, which will be on our November ballots. Depending upon which report you look at, Kentucky ranks anywhere from 39th to 44th nationally in education. This Amendment could clear the way for innovative solutions to Kentucky’s abysmal education ranking.”
The local group Daviess County Citizens for Decency is co-hosting the event.
House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles is the primary sponsor of House Bill 2 and first introduced it in January.
“HB 2 is the purest form of democracy,” Miles said earlier this year. “It provides the people of Kentucky (the chance) to vote on whether or not they want to see the legislature take additional steps to expand educational options. Those in favor of and against parental choices in educational opportunities will have an opportunity to vote.”
Because constitutional amendments are not subject to gubernatorial veto, Gov. Andy Beshear has no official power to block the bill, so it is now solely up to voters to decide whether to pass the amendment this November.
The proposed ballot language will read:
“To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?”
If passed, the constitutional amendment will 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.”
While the amendment will ask voters if they want to give the legislature the ability to fund non-public schools, such as charter and private schools, it does not address any specific policies or funding mechanisms, such as vouchers.
