Kentucky’s Largest Association for School Leaders Adopts Resolution Opposing Amendment 2

For Immediate Release

September 30, 2024

Kentucky’s Largest Association for School Leaders Adopts Resolution Opposing Amendment 2

(Frankfort, Ky) — The Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA) adopted a formal resolution opposing the proposed Constitutional Amendment 2 that will be on November ballots.

The unanimous vote taken on September 13 signals an important statement from the organization, which represents more than 3,300 members representing every county and every school district in Kentucky.

The resolution reads, in part:

“Voters should seriously consider the unintended and adverse consequences Amendment 2 will have on our public schools and local communities…

We urge voters to cast a ‘NO’ on Amendment 2 and send a resounding message that the people of Kentucky support public education and oppose public funds for private schools.”

“KASA members have been very clear in telling us they want us to send a strong public message on this issue that could, and in other states has, caused dire harm to public schools and the students they serve,” said KASA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rhonda Caldwell.

“The fact is this amendment is an attempt to undermine our constitutional rights. The courts have repeatedly established this fact, and this last-ditch effort by groups outside Kentucky is an attempt to convince you otherwise. Those out-of-state groups want to profit off of us as they have in other states where their misleading campaigns prevailed. Kentuckians are smarter than that, and we don’t need opportunists telling us how to govern,” she added.

KASA represents school leaders in every Kentucky county and is working to ensure that its 3,400 members are working in a legal and responsible manner to ensure their colleagues and neighbors understand the negative consequences of Amendment 2.

The attached copy of the KASA resolution lays out key reasons why we consider Amendment 2 a bad policy for public schools, taxpayers, and most importantly, Kentucky’s children.

As the largest school administrator group in Kentucky, KASA represents more than 3,300 education leaders from across the commonwealth. Since its formation in 1969, KASA has been dedicated to connecting education leaders with policymakers, legislators, and other key stakeholders, while providing invaluable support and resources to Kentucky’s school administrators.                                                                 ###

A Resolution Opposing Amendment #2
to the Kentucky Constitution

WHEREAS, Kentucky’s system of public schools educates all children without regard to disabilities, language barriers, race, or creed; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 2 portends to equip families with more choices while instead giving private schools the choice to decide who they will educate with no accountability as to how they educate students, and

WHEREAS, Amendment 2 would enable scarce financial resources to be diverted from public education at a time when public school funding has fallen well below the levels necessary to attract and retain teachers and
other staff; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 2 would specifically enable the General Assembly to disregard sections of the Constitution that require public schools to be adequately and equitably funded; and

WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of private school voucher programs in other states are used by students from middle and upper income families who were already enrolled in a private school and have never set foot in a public school; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 2 would divert public funds from rural areas to fund private schools concentrated
in a few urban areas; and

WHEREAS, Voucher programs in other states have led to the closure and consolidation of schools as students have used vouchers to attend home school to escape truancy and disciplinary issues; and

WHEREAS, the passage of Amendment 2 will result in local property tax increases as school districts are forced to make up the lost state tax revenue vouchers will divert to private schools;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Association of School Administrators that:

Section 1: Voters should seriously consider the unintended and adverse consequences
Amendment 2 will have on our public schools and local communities.

Section 2: We urge voters to cast a ‘NO’ on Amendment 2 and send a resounding message that the people of Kentucky support public education and oppose public funds for private schools.