Much of Northern Kentucky — and people across the state — are talking about Amendment 2, a crucial constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot this fall.
The amendment proposes significant changes to how school funding can be used in Kentucky. It’s implications will affect students, educators and communities across the state.
LINK nky, in partnership with Educate NKY, is holding the first of what we are calling Community Conversations, which will bring together members of the community to help voters better understand what this amendment means and how it will affect them.
The event is scheduled for Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library. RSVP for a free ticket to the in-person event here, or watch the event live on our Facebook page.
Amendment 2 would change the Kentucky constitution to allow public funding to be sent to non-public schools. Proponents say passing it would give Kentucky parents and students more choice when deciding where to attend school. Opponents argue it would lead to laws that would siphon money away from public schools. Learn more about what the amendment would do (and what it wouldn’t) here.
Evan Millward, who was previously an anchor and reporter with WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, will be moderating the event.
Speakers will be:
Brigitte Blom of the Prichard Committee: Blom is the president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, a public school advocacy group that has come out publicly against Amendment 2. Before coming to the Prichard Committee, Blom was director of public policy for United Way of Greater Cincinnati with a focus on early childhood policy. Blom has worked in policy, research, and advocacy on issues related to education, poverty, and state taxes and budgets – including work for universities in Ohio and Kentucky and for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Initiative: Waters is the president of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, which is advocating for the passage of Amendment 2. Waters has been with the organization — a free-market public policy think tank committed to offering commonsense solutions to complicated policy changes, according to its website — since 2003.
Jorge Elorza of Democrats for Education Reform: Elorza is the CEO of Democrats for Education Reform. In his two terms as mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, Elorza worked to engage the state department of education to turn around the city’s school system. Democrats for Education Reform was created in 2007 to address education inequality in public schools across the country. Neither Elorza nor Democrats for Education reform have taken a public stance on Amendment 2.
Lauren Hodge of yes. every kid. foundation.: Hodge is the director of foundational education at yes. every kid. foundation., whose mission is to promote education that empowers families, helps implement bottom-up solutions, and advances education freedoms across the country, according to its website. Hodge previously worked at EdChoice as a state director and on the Legal Defense in Education team. She also litigated for several years in the public sector in Indiana in both criminal and civil courts. Hodge and yes. every kid. foundation. have not taken a stance on Amendment 2.
