LOUISVILLE, Ky. — People gathered at the Main Library Branch in Downtown Louisville on Monday to hear from panelists, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Louisville, about Amendment Two. The controversial amendment will be on voter's ballots in November, asking voters to allow the General Assembly to use public money to fund private schools.
The League of Women Voters came out as against Amendment Two. Critics see a lack of specifics in the amendment.
"There's also no language in the amendment outlining who will be eligible," said Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) President Maddie Shepard. "So, this could be eligible to families in a certain income level. This could be eligible to everybody."
Some are also concerned about what they see as a lack of regulations on charter schools regarding mental health and disabilities. There is also concern over racial discrimination.
"Really hurts our communities, all of our Black and brown kids especially because when all these folks leave and take their income away, we're stuck with lower quality education based off of property funding," said JCTA Vice President, Kumar Rashad.
The WHAS11 News team reached out to the Jefferson County Republican Party (JCRP) for a perspective on the amendment. Vice Chair Charlie Bell said the group is in favor of Amendment Two. Bell is a former principal of a charter school in Ohio.
"Every child learns differently," said Bell. "So, if every child learns differently and you're put into a box, then our kids aren't succeeding. And that's exactly what we're seeing right now."
Bell said charter schools are a great option for students and allows parents more involvement in their child's education.
"If it was good for my school, then it was good for my kids at the school," said Bell. "I was the actual leader of that school with a leadership team."
Panelists at the League of Women Voters forum urged the audience to spread what they've learned.
"Who are you serving? And if not, then why not? And if you are not, then it's time to because our young people are screaming," Geneva Stark, a member of the League of Women Voters, said.
Bell said this amendment is starting the conversation of school choice with more developments to come later.
Yard signs can be picked up from both JCTA and JCRP offices.
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