The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
School district ballot stance decried
Critics: Advocacy may be illegal
Local Republicans and national school choice proponents are accusing a south central Kentucky school district of breaking the law after publicly advocating against an upcoming ballot measure on its website and social media.
Pulaski County Schools, which serves roughly 7,500 students in and around Somerset, placed an image on its website and Facebook page over the weekend warning that Amendment 2 will “harm” the district.
The amendment, often referred to as a “school choice” measure, would let lawmakers spend tax dollars on education outside the public school system. If the amendment passes, lawmakers could introduce a bill during the next legislative session to fund charter schools or create a voucher program, which would provide scholarships to families seeking to attend private schools.
Several states already have such programs, which opponents say divert money away from public schools.
“Public funding for private school vouchers would harm Pulaski County Schools,” the district’s website said Tuesday morning, listing data points from a Kentucky Center for Economic Policy report, which found Pulaski could see a 16% reduction — about $15.5 million — in its budget if the amendment passes lawmakers create a voucher program, specifically.
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy report states vouchers would be especially harmful to the state’s poorest rural areas, because they largely lack private schools and rely more on state funds compared to property-rich districts that pull in more local tax dollars.
“The result will be tax dollars leaving these rural districts entirely, with local residents’ state taxes paying for private education elsewhere,” the report states.
There is only one private school in Pulaski County, along with 15 public schools, according to the district’s post.
Corey A. DeAngelis, a supporter of voucher programs and senior fellow at the American Federation for Children, shared photos of the posts Sunday on social media, saying “this electioneering might be illegal.”
He referenced a section of Kentucky law that states tax dollars cannot be used to advocate for or against a public question on a ballot. The statute went into effect in June 2021.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and TJ Roberts, a Boone County Republican running for state representative, have since shared DeAngelis’ post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The Pulaski County Kentucky school system is blatantly breaking the law by using public resources to campaign against a ballot initiative,” Massie posted.
Roberts added he will “introduce universal vouchers on day one” of the next legislative session, if elected.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman was asked about the post during a Monday press conference and whether or not it violates Kentucky law.
“It is pretty unambiguous, it is pretty crystal clear,” Coleman said of the post, which his team is reviewing. “If indeed there is a violation of state law ... we will act with our partners accordingly.”
The Courier Journal did not receive an immediate response for a request for comment from the Kentucky Department of Education.
Contact Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.
Pulaski County Schools placed an image on its website and Facebook page warning that Amendment 2 will “harm” the district.