Recently, I was on a road trip with my niece and nephew and we found ourselves playing your typical car ride games to pass the time. You know the ones I’m talking about: the License Plate Game, I Spy, Two Truths and a Lie. As a history teacher, my favorite has always been Two Truths and a Lie. There are always so many misconceptions that people just believe to be true, so it makes it easy to sneak in a lie − or twist a partial truth into an outright lie.
Which brings me to the upcoming November election and Constitutional Amendment 2. Amendment 2 reads: "The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools" ("common schools" in this context refer to the public school system). As the Kentucky Teacher of the Year and resident of Boone County, I have seen a lot of misinformation online and in mailers regarding this ballot measure. To illustrate this issue more clearly, I thought it best to play one of these simple games: Two Truths and a Lie, Amendment 2 edition.
The rules are simple, I will give you three statements and you will have to determine which two are true and which one is a lie, but don’t worry, I’ll provide some help. Here are the three statements:
- Public schools use money more efficiently than private schools.
- Public school teachers are held to higher standards than their counterparts in private schools.
- Public schools will be stronger with Amendment 2.
If you are struggling to find the lie, these explanations will help.
Statement 1: Public schools use money more efficiently than private schools.
Advocates of voucher programs like Amendment 2 claim that private schools will provide more educational opportunities for "all students," with their emphasis on all. While private schools do have more discretionary spending, they are less efficient in how they spend money, who has access to that money, and where that money is spent. A study by Fordham University found that private schools put as little as 41% of their allocated funds into the classroom, while public school districts put as much as 63% of their funds into theirs. The public dollars that go to public schools are used for more students and are used more efficiently.
Statement 2: Public school teachers are held to higher standards than their counterparts in private schools.
Advocates for voucher programs claim that Amendment 2 will provide more innovative practices and policies in education. While innovation is a hallmark of education, as it should be, it is also important that these innovations are based on research, and those implementing them are held accountable for their equitable implementation. While public school teachers are required to uphold professional licensing standards and teaching practices, there are no such entities for private schools. As the Prichard Committee on Academic Excellence states, "Diverting public dollars to private schools creates the conditions for an unregulated market with no accountability." While many private school educators are talented and innovative, no safeguard ensures equity and effectiveness across the board.
Statement 3: Public schools will be stronger with Amendment 2.
Advocates of voucher programs claim that Amendment 2 will improve and support our public schools. The most pernicious and manipulative lie perpetuated by this amendment and its supporters is that it is good for public school teachers and students. Among the many groups of people in Kentucky who will suffer are those from low-income households and those from rural communities.
Low-income families promised a Golden Ticket for private schools that have felt out of reach will be met with a voucher that does not fully cover the cost of tuition to private schools − in addition to the fact that other states with similar programs have seen private school tuition costs increase almost immediately. Additionally, over 60% of all counties in Kentucky do not have access to private schools and will suffer the financial losses associated with the passage of this amendment. Even those communities in areas with high numbers of private schools, like Northern Kentucky, will suffer. In Boone County where I live and teach, the district anticipates losing over $25 million dollars − and that is only one community. That is $25 million taken away from a single community; $25 million taken from our most at-risk students.
So which one is the lie? Could you tell? Evidence and research make it clear: the lie is that Kentucky students, teachers, and schools are better off with Amendment 2. My niece and nephew, both public school students, certainly are not.
Most of us are familiar with some version of the 1869 quote by Isabella Blagden, "If a lie is only printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an article of belief." While this sentiment may be believed and carried through traditional lore, the reality is that a lie can never become the truth, no matter how many people believe it, no matter who tries to convince you otherwise. A lie is a lie.
Right now, one of the most egregious lies being told in Kentucky is that public money belongs in the hands of private schools. The simple truth is that Kentucky is strongest when we work together. I implore you to keep Kentucky moving forward, together, by voting No on Amendment 2.
Kevin Dailey is a veteran public school teacher in Boone County schools, a 2021 Milken Educator, and the 2024 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
This story was updated to add a video.
