In Kentucky, voters in all 120 counties rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed tax dollars to be sent to private, charter, or religious schools. Every county. Rural and urban. Red and blue. That wasn’t confusion or coincidence — it was a statewide decision to protect public education.

Kentuckians said they want public money to stay in public schools.

That’s why current efforts in the legislature, including House Bill 88, matter so much. While supporters argue that these bills don’t directly take money from public schools, the end result is the same: fewer resources for the schools that serve the majority of Kentucky’s children.

Tax credits are still public money. When the state collects less revenue, there’s less to invest in classrooms, teachers, transportation, special education, and student support services. Public schools feel that loss first — especially in communities that are already underfunded.

This debate is often framed as “school choice,” but choice means different things depending on where you live. Many rural areas don’t have private or charter school options. When public funds are diverted elsewhere, those communities don’t gain choices — they lose resources.

Public schools are accountable to everyone. They serve every child who walks through the door. They must follow transparency laws, meet state standards, and provide services regardless of income, ability, language, or background. That level of accountability matters.

Privatization efforts promise innovation, but often deliver less oversight, fewer protections, and uneven results. When schools aren’t required to serve all students, the most vulnerable children are the ones left behind.

This isn’t about opposing parents or limiting opportunity. It’s about honoring the choice Kentuckians already made at the ballot box. The people spoke clearly, and their voices deserve respect.

Supporting public education means funding it fully, strengthening it thoughtfully, and protecting it from being slowly dismantled piece by piece. Public schools are not the problem — they are one of the greatest investments we can make in our communities and our future.

If we believe in democracy, we have to listen when people vote. And in Kentucky, the people voted for public schools.

When votes don’t matter, public schools are only the beginning of what we lose.