BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher, during an Oct. 10 webcast with superintendents, commented on the Kentucky Board of Education’s (KBE) unified stance against the use of public funds to support nonpublic schools. The board’s recently passed resolution states that public education is the best way to ensure equitable, high-quality learning opportunities for all students.

Fletcher explained that the resolution, which had been in development for the past two months, gained momentum after KBE student representative Preston Graham raised a question at the board’s Oct. 7-8 meeting: “What would it mean if we said nothing?”

In clarifying the resolution’s purpose, Fletcher stated that the board is not telling people how to vote on Amendment 2.

“I get a lot of questions about Amendment 2 and how to approach that,” he said. “I’m going to vote ‘No’ on Amendment 2.”

Fletcher expressed concerns over the amendment’s lack of clarity.

“The amendment itself, if it passes, removes all guardrails,” he said. “It opens up what could happen with funding; it’s not clearly defined.”

He added, “When I want to vote for or against an amendment on a ballot, I like to know exactly what I’m voting for.”

Fletcher framed his concerns around three key questions. First, he raised the issue of funding.

“Kentucky public schools currently serve 90% of school-aged students,” he explained. “If you have the potential to add in another 10% to the over 600,000 students in our public schools … another 60,000 into the formula … where is that extra funding coming from? Does it take away from the existing budget? Or is it going to be more funding added in by the General Assembly? Those questions aren’t answered in this amendment.”

The commissioner also questioned whether private schools would adhere to the same accountability standards as public institutions.

“That question has not been answered,” he said.

Another concern Fletcher raised focused on admission practices.

“Will private schools accept all students that apply? I’m not going to answer that question for the private schools, but with that being said, that is a big question for me,” he said. “If a student lives within the boundaries of your district, we take them, and we want to take them. We want our students within our system, but will [private schools] still be denying some students to come into that private system? For me, that clearly takes away from our common system.”

Fletcher noted the resolution’s warning against diverting public funds to private institutions and the potential consequences.

“Using state funds to support schools outside the common system of public schools diverts essential resources from public schools, weakening their capacity to effectively serve all students. This practice will also increase segregation based on socioeconomic status, race and religion, thereby undermining the principles of equity and inclusivity that are fundamental to our public education system.”

Fletcher concluded by reiterating his stance on Amendment 2: “I’m not going to tell you how to vote, but I’m going to vote ‘No.’”

He added that if the amendment passes, he looks forward to working with the General Assembly on the next steps.

KBE

The KBE aligned itself with Fletcher’s message, with Chair Sharon Porter Robinson emphasizing that the state’s constitutional framers recognized the critical role of public education for all children.

“The framers were clear that public funds should exclusively support our common school system,” Robinson said.

In advocating for the board’s resolution, Robinson cited a passage from the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Brown v Board of Education, which the Kentucky Supreme Court later incorporated in Rose v Council for Better Education:

“Education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.”

Robinson mentioned the growing pressures on Kentucky’s public schools, especially as they confront the fallout from a global pandemic, natural disasters, and increasing mental health challenges.

“Our common schools accept and welcome all, but they do so in an environment of uncertainty when it comes to adequate funding,” she said.

The resolution, according to Robinson, reinforces the board’s commitment to ensuring that all Kentucky children have equal access to educational opportunities.

“We know that ‘separate but equal’ is not a reality that can be realized,” she added.

Board member Diana Woods is concerned that diverting public dollars away from public education could lead to a division of resources similar to the way segregation worked when she was a child in school.

“There are not enough (public) funds now,” Woods said. “And I come from a small rural county. Even after integration, there still was not enough money.”

Robinson said the resolution does not intend to influence voting decisions.

“This resolution reflects the board’s unwavering support for our common school system as a priority,” she said.