[♪♪] GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: SCHOOL CHOICE AND AMENDMENT 2.

WE’RE ELECTING A PRESIDENT, PLUS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS NOVEMBER.

BUT SOMETHING ELSE ON THE KENTUCKY BALLOT MIGHT END UP GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION — AMENDMENT 2, THE SO-CALLED SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT.

IF PASSED, IT WOULD ALLOW THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO OKAY PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE AMENDMENT WOULD GIVE KENTUCKY PARENTS MORE OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION.

CRITICS SAY IT WOULD DIVERT MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HURTING MOST KENTUCKY STUDENTS.

TV COMMERCIALS, ON BOTH SIDES, ARE ALREADY RUNNING.

EXPECT A LOT MORE, BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER FIFTH — AS MILLIONS ARE EXPECTED TO POUR FROM THOSE ADVOCATING ON BOTH SIDES.

TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS, WE’RE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY: RANDY ADAMS, FORMER PRINCIPAL IN THE ANDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT; TOM SHELTON, CHAIR OF THE PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN AND FORMER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT; JIM WATERS, PRESIDENT OF THE BLUEGRASS INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS; AND MATT ROBBINS, FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

SEND AN E-MAIL TO KET.ORG OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KY TONIGHT OR CALL... AS WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRECISE WORDING OF AMENDMENT 2, AS IT WILL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT: QUOTE•.. “IT IS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY TO READ AS FOLLOWS: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM OF COMMON SCHOOLS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY EXERCISE THIS AUTHORITY BY LAW, SECTIONS 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, AND 189 OF THIS CONSTITUTION NOTWITHSTANDING.” UNQUOTE.

>> Renee: Mr. ROBINS IT'S PO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE MANY, MANY, TIMES ON THIS PROGRAM BUT GIVE A REFRESHER AND INFORM OTHERS.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY A SYSTEM OF COMMON SCHOOLS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

THE COMMON SCHOOLS ARE WHAT WE DEFINE AS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS ALL OF KENTUCKY FROM PA PADUCAH TO PIKEVILLE.

THE COMMON SCHOOLS IT'S GIVEN TATD TERMINOLOGY IN THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE IT'S DEEMED TO BE PART OF THE COMMON GOOD LIKE FIRE, POLICE AND THE ROADS THAT WE HAVE, EVEN THE NATIONAL GUARD, MILITARY, THOSE THINGS ARE CONSIDERED AND DEEMED TO BE THE COMMON GOOD.

AND OUR FRAMERS WHEN THEY DRAFTED THE CONSTITUTION FOR KENTUCKY, BACK IN 1792, WE'RE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS EXISTED THEN.

IN FACT THEY WERE THE PREDOMINANT WAY OF SCHOOLING THAT EXISTED.

IN TERMS OF EDUCATING THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE CREATED AND THEREFORE AS THEY ADOPTED OUR CONSTITUTION, WE'RE ONE OF THE STRICTEST 16 STRICTEST CONSTITUTIONS IN THE UNION.

THAT IS FOR A REASON BECAUSE OUR FRAMERS WERE PROTECTIVE ABOUT OUR SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE CREATED AND WE HAVE ENJOYED FOR THE LAST 230 YEARS.

>> Renee: IF THIS AMENDMENT IS APPROVED IT STRIKES THAT LANGUAGE FROM ALL OF THOSE SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION, I JUST READ IS THAT CORRECT?

>> IT DOES.

AND IT'S NORTH WORTHY THERE ARE SEVEN SECTIONS.

IT IS NOT JUST A SLIGHT WORD OF CHANGE THERE ARE SEVEN SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION.

THIS IS A VERY DRAMATIC CHANGE ON BEHALF OF KENTUCKY POLITICIANS TO PUT THIS INTO THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE AT THAT TIME LIGHTLY.

HOST OF US HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US, CERTAINLY THE HISTORIANS AND THOSE WHO CREATED AND DRAFTED THIS CONSTITUTION.

BECAUSE I THINK THEY DID THAT WITH GREAT INTENT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE BEFORE THE COMMONWEALTH.

IT EXISTED THEN AS IT EXISTS NOW.

>> Renee: Mr.

WATERS WE WANT TO CLARIFY IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES DOES IT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST DO A, B OR C WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL CHOICE?

DOES IT LAYOUT A PATH, DIRECTIVE OR POLICY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ADOPT?

>> YOU JUST READ THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY.

IT DOESN'T SAY IT MUST PROVIDE OR RECOMMEND ANY POLICY.

AMENDMENT 2 DOES NOT SETUP SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM.

IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION CANNOT BE INTERPRETED AS PROHIBITING SUCH PROGRAMS.

AND I THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE TO THINK THE FOUND ESH OF OUR COMMONWEALTH THOSE HO RATIFIED THIS CONSTITUTION WAS 1891 THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP PARENTS IN 2024 FROM HAVING OPTIONS THAT WOULD BEST FIT THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN.

THIS IS NOT DRAMATIC.

THIS IS SIMPLY CLARIFYING THAT OUR CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT GIVING PARENTS IN KENTUCKY THE SAME KIND OF EDUCATION FREEDOM THAT PARENTS IN MOST OTHER STATES INCLUDING EVERY STATE THAT SURROUNDS US THE SAME OPTIONS AND CHOICES.

>> Renee: Mr. SHELTON DO, OBJECT TO THE FACT THIS AMENDMENT IS APPEARING ON THE BALLOT FOR KENTUCKY VOTERS TO DECIDE WHAT IS WRONG WITH LETTING KENTUCKY VOTERS HAVE THE SAY ON WHETHER OR NOT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN PROCEED WITH CONSIDERING CERTAIN OPTIONS THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHT OF BEFORE?

SY.

WELL, AS Mr. ROBINS MENTIONED WITH THE SEVEN SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION IT WOULD BE SET ASIDE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS TO ME THE MOST ALARMING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEING PUT BEFORE THE PEOPLE, IS OUR LEGISLATORS OUR POLITICIANS IN FRANKFORT ARE SAYING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WE WANT YOU TO ALLOW US TO NOT WITHSTAND OR TO VIOLATE SEVEN SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION THEY ARE KNOWINGLY ASKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITHOUT FULLY DEFINING WHAT THE SEVEN SECTIONS ARE, WHAT THEY MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MOST ALARMING TO ME IN THOSE SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION IS I WILL HIGHLIGHT IS 183.

SECTION 183 IS THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE SECTIONS RELATED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT WAS USED IN THE ROSE DECISION, FAMOUS ROSE DECISION IN 1990.

THAT SAID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF COMMON SCHOOLS.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BASICALLY VIOLATE THAT OR SET ASIDE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR COMMON SCHOOLS AND THEREFORE 90% OF OUR STUDENTS IN KENTUCKY.

I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DECIDED THROUGH A BALLOT VOTE.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT THAT, IS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND RECOGNIZE THAT ALL SEVEN OF THESE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SET ASIDE OF THE SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION, ARE THE ONES THAT THEY HAVE LOST ON LITIGATION THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT WHEN THEY HAVE VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION BEFORE.

SO THEY HAVE ALREADY SHOWN WHAT POLICY MEASURES THEY WANT TO TRY TO PASS, SO THEY DID THAT WITH HOUSE BILL 563, WITH HOUSE BILL 9, AND WE HAVE SUED EACH TIME.

AND THESE ARE THE SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT WERE UPHELD UNANIMOUSLY BY THE SUPREME COURT.

>> Renee: AND YOU WERE A PART OF THE COUNSEL FOR BETTER EDUCATION PART OF THE LAWSUITS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> Renee: AND THAT IS TRUE CHARTER SCHOOL LAW WAS PASSED IN 2017 MOST OF US REMEMBER IT WAS AN ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION AND THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT BILLS PASSED, SEVEN TO 10 I BELIEVE AND THIS WAS PASSED ON A FRIDAY AN EIGHT-HOUR MARATHON SESSION THAT PASSED HOUSE BILL 520.

BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED SINCE.

YOU HAD THE 2021 SESSION 563 AND VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR AND KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT STRUCK THAT DOWN AND HOUSE BILL 9.

WHICH PASSED AND ADDED RULES FOR FUNDING KENTUCKY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND INCLUDINGED ENROLLMENT GAPS AND THE JUDGE RULE THAT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> IF I CAN ADD QUICKLY HOUSE BILL 9 CHANGED THE ORIGINAL CHARTER SCHOOL LAW.

IT WAS WRITTEN IN 2017 WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATORS.

I ACTUALLY WAS PART OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WORKED WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO HELP CRAFT THAT BILL.

THAT WAS CHANGED WHEN HOUSE BILL 9 WAS FILED.

THERE WERE PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT WERE ADDED TO THAT LANGUAGE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY TOOK AWAY THE ABILITY FOR ANY DISTRICT OF 7500 STUDENTS OR MORE TO BE ABLE TO DENY A CHARTER SCHOOL IN THEIR DISTRICT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY REQUIRED THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY TO HAVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

AND SO AGAIN, WE SUED ON THAT MEASURE AND WON.

AND IT WILL SOON GO TO THE SUPREME COURT WHERE WE BELIEVE WE WILL PREVAIL AGAIN.

BECAUSE WE DO NOT BELIEVE WHETHER IT IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR A PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOL SHOULD RECEIVE STATE FUNDING.

>> Renee: AND MADISON COUNTY IT WAS LAST YEAR WHERE THE SCHOOL BOARD DENIED THE APPLICATION FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL.

AND THERE ARE NO CHARTER SCHOOLS OPERATING IN KENTUCKY.

Mr. ADAMS I WANT TO COME TO YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR AND MANY PEOPLE WILL SAY HE LOOKS FAMILIAR.

AND MAYBE I'VE SEEN HIM ON TELEVISION AND YOU ARE FEATURED IN THE AD FOR AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 AS A PROPONENT WHICH MANY PEOPLE MAY FIND CURIOUS.

WHY AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR AT ONE TIME ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TWO ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'VE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM MORE RECENTLY THAN ANYBODY HERE.

I'VE DRIVEN SCHOOL BUSES AND WORKED FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

AND I'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORTER AND I STILL AM.

I'M HERE NOT AS AN ENEMY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT A SUPPORTERS.

SOMETIMES YOU SUPPORT BEST WHENEVER YOU CRITIQUE AND SAY WE HAVE TO WORK ON A FEW THINGS.

SO FOR ME, I IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022 I WAS WORKING AS A DIRECTOR OF AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL IN ANDERSON COUNTY SCHOOLINGS.

KDE CAME OUT WITH GUIDANCE ON STUDENT PRONOUNCES AND ASKED TEACHERS TO USE PRO NOUNS AND HIDE IT FROM BARENTS.

MY WIFE AND I FELT TENSION, THE BEHAVIOR WAS GETTING WORSE.

TEACHERS SHORTAGES ARE COMPOUNDING AND AMENDMENT 2 IS A WAY OF EMPOWERING PARENTS.

I AM NOT ALARMED IF GIVING A PEOPLE A CHOICE ON THE CONSTITUTION WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE COMMON SCHOOLS I THINK ABOUT THE COMMON GOOD.

I BELIEVE IN THEM TOO IT'S GOING TO OPEN DOORS FOR PARENTS TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND NEW WAYS AND ALSO EMPOWER TEACHERS TO NOT BE FORCED TO VIOLATE THEIR CONSCIENCE AND TO LIE TO PARENTS.

WE SHOULD BE SERVING PARENTS NOT LYING TO THEM.

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE LITIGATION THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT I AM NOT A LOBBIEST NOT PAID BY ANYBODY TO BE HERE.

I AM A FATHER WHO PULLED MY CHILDREN OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AND MOVED THEM INTO PRIVATE.

AND I WORK WITH TEACHERS WHO LEFT PUBLIC SCHOOL AND GO WOW I NEVER KNEW TEACHING COULD BE THIS FULFILLING.

I'M SO RELIEVED AND I WANT MORE TEACHERS TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THESE ISSUES.

>> Renee: AND WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE TO DO SO.

A QUESTION THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE THAT DEALT WITH THE LGBTQ STUDENT POPULATION SOME WOULD SAY AS A CORRELATION DES THAT MEAN A PRIVATE SCHOOL CAN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A STUDENT WHO IS PART OF THAT POPULATION?

BASED ON PERHAPS THEY DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THOSE BELIEFS BECAUSE THAT GETS AT ONE OF THE CORNERSTONE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS TYPE OF AMENDMENT IS THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN PLAY BY DIFFERENT RULES THEY CAN CHERRY PICK THEIR STUDENTS BASED ON ACADEMIC, DISCIPLINARY BACKGROUNDS OR SPECIAL NEEDS OR HOW THEY IDENTIFY?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO LET'S PUT THAT BACK WHEN I READ THOSE KDE GUIDELINES WE TALK ABOUT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST STUDENTS THEY MENTIONED MICRO AYESESES -- AGGRESSIONS.

IF WE HAD A STUDENT WHO WAS UNCOMFORTABLE CALLING A STUDENT BY A DIFFERENT PRONOUN OR NAME THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE FROM THEIR PRINCIPAL.

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BREAKING THE SCHOOL RULES.

WE TALK ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST STUDENTS THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT AMENDMENT 2, AND WE THINK ABOUT THE WORD IS EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM, RENEE IS THAT SCHOOLS CAN OPEN UP AND SERVE DIFFERENT NEEDS.

YOU WILL HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE LGBTQ STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING BULLIED WHO THEIR SELF-WORTH THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION IN OUR SCHOOLS THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP SCHOOLS TO SERVE THOSE STUDENTS NEEDS.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO ALLOW TEACHERS TO CREATE SETTINGS AND NICHES FOR STUDENTS TO GET WHAT THEY NEED.

RIGHT NOW, I CAN SHARE THE BEHAVIOR DATA TONIGHT THAT SHOW OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN MORE VIOLENT, MORE FILLED CAN DISRUPTIONS AND TEACHERS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THE PROFESSION BECAUSE THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Renee: WELL, BEFORE WE GO FURTHER BECAUSE WE'VE MENTIONED YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ADS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE AIRING ON BOTH SIDES.

AND OUR JUNE LEFFLER CAUGHT UP WITH PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS THAT ARE PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

>> THE CAMPAIGN TO PASS AMENDMENT 2 IS REVVED UP AND HITTING THE ROAD.

>> WE HAVE A GOAL OF REACHING 225,000 PEOPLE JUST AT DOORS.

>> THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY PUSHES SCHOOL CHOICE LAWS ACROSS THE NATION.

BUT KENTUCKY POSES A NEW CHALLENGE.

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE NOT HAD TO GO THROUGH A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN ANY OTHER STATE BUT KENTUCKY WHICH IS NOT IDEAL WAY.

>> THAT MEANS SELLING THE MESSAGE NOT JUST TO LAWMAKERS BUT ALL THE VOTERS THEY REPRESENT.

>> WE KNOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

WE KNOW THAT MATH AND READING PROFICIENCY IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

AND WE KNOW THAT WITH MORE OPTIONS IN EDUCATION THAT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE ADDRESSED.

>> AFP EXPLAINS THE OPTIONS AT A Q AND A.

>> HOW MANY OF READ THE AMENDMENTS?

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE, THAT'S GREAT.

>> STATE LAWMAKERS SUPPORTS CHARTER SCHOOLS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED THEM BUT KENTUCKY COURTS HAVE BLOCKED THEM.

>> THEY WOULD FALL UNDERNEATH ALL OF THE STANDARDS OF OUR STATE TESTING AND FALL UNDER ALL OF THE KDE GUIDELINES HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT FALL UNDER ALL OF THE RED TAPE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THEY WOULD HAVE MORE FREEDOM.

>> AFP STAYS AWAY FROM A MORE CONTROVERSIAL SCHOOL CHOICE MECHANISM.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S CALLED THE VOUCH ARE AMENDMENT.

>> THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS US TO BEGIN MOVING LEGISLATION FORWARD AND FUNDING STATUTES THAT ALREADY EXIST.

IF VOUCHERS ARE GOING TO COME, IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN THE ROAD.

>> AN EDUCATION POLICY EXPERT SAYS VOUCHERS ARE A DISASTER.

>> OVER THE LAST DECADE VOUCHERS HAVE CAUSED THE WORST ACADEMIC DECLINES ON ANYTHING IN THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY.

>> SCHOOL VOUCHERS PROVIDE PUBLIC DOLLARS TO HELP PAY FOR A STUDENT'S PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT 70% OF VOUCHER USERS IN STATE AFTER STATE WERE ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOL TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT FOR THE 25% OR 30% OF KIDS WHO DO TRANSFER FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE SCHOOL YOU SEE THE RECORD ACADEMIC DECLINES ON THEIR OUTCOMES.

AND THE REASON IS THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE OPEN SEATS TO TAKE THOSE TRANSFERS, TEND TO BE WHAT I CALL SUBPRIME PROVIDERS.

THEY HAVE OPEN SEATS FOR A REASON.

>> POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TIED TO RAND PAUL RELEASED THIS AD IN KENTUCKY.

>> VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 2 FOR EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM.

>> JOSH COHEN WHO WROTE THE BOOK HOW BILLIONAIRES SOLD SCHOOL VOUCHERS SAYS POLITICAL MESSAGING AROUND PARENTS' CHOICE IS MISLEADING.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE VOUCHER PLAN IT'S THE SCHOOL CHOICE NOTHING IN THE LEGISLATION IN ANY STATE RIGHT NOW, THAT'S PASSED THE VOUCHER SYSTEM COMPELS THOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO TAKE YOUR KID.

YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR OWN AND FIND YOU A SCHOOL TO ALLOW YOU TO USE THE VOUCHER.

>> ADVOCATES SAY IT WON'T OPEN THE FLOODGATES.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO TALK TO PEOPLE AT EVENTS AND GATHERINGS WHAT THE TYPES OF SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS THERE ARE.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR CONSTITUENTS TO TALK TO THEIR LEGISLATORS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.

>> KENTUCKY'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS NOT TOUCHED VOUCHER PER SE.

LAWMAKERS DID APPROVE A PRIVATELY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM THAT OFFERED TAX CREDITS TO DONORS.

THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT BLOCKED THAT IN 2022.

FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU Mr.

WATERS WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE AND THIS IS A SUCCINCT WAY OF ASKING THIS WHAT LAWMAKERS HAVE TO TAKE MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND RAISE TAXES FOR THIS TO WORK?

FOR SCHOOL CHOICE TO WORK?

>> ASK THAT AGAIN.

>> Renee: WON'T LAWMAKERS HAVE TO TAKE MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO RAISE TAXES TO PROVIDE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS SUCH AS PERHAPS MAYBE SCHOOL VOUCHERS?

>> THE DOLLARS ARE FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

THE DOLLARS ARE FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS WHAT ABOUT EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT ABOUT SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE WE CLOSE THESE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS THAT HAVE GROWN MANY YEARS.

THE DOLLARS ARE FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS AND THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T HEAR OPPONENTS MUCH AT ALL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE THE OUTCOMES OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

IF A STUDENT GETS EDUCATED AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL THEY ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND PRIVATE SCHOOL IF THEY ARE GETTING EDUCATED THEN THE DOLLARS ARE PROPERLY USED.

>> Renee: THE DOLLAR FOLLOWS THE CHILD.

>> THEY ARE GETTING EDUCATED AS YOU ALL SAID THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

SO IF WE'RE SPENDING $24,000 LIKE WE ARE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND YET, ONLY A THIRD OF THE STUDENTS ARE PROFICIENT IN MATH AND READING I DON'T THINK MANY KENTUCKIANS WOULD CONSIDER THAT TO BE EFFICIENT.

THEREFORE, IF IT'S NOT WORKING, THEN WE HAVE TO SAY WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO THAT WILL HELP CLOSE TOES GAPS AND WHAT WE FOUND IN OTHER STATES FROM FLORIDA TO ARIZONA TO CALIFORNIA, THERE ARE 1220 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA AND THOSE STATES ARE CLOSING THE GAPS.

THE BLACK STUDENTS IN FLORIDA'S CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE OUTPERFORMING THE BLACK STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN KEY AREAS OF MATH AND READING.

AND TO THE YOUR POINT ABOUT ARIZONA, AND TO THE POINT OF THE EXPERT ON THE FILM THERE THAT TALKED ABOUT VOUCHERS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN ARE IN PROGRAMS ARE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE STATES HAVE HAD LONG STANDING SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS.

LIKE IN ARIZONA FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'VE HAD PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS FOR A LONGTIME.

SO THERE ARE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THOSE PROGRAMS AND THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING AN EXPANSION OF SCHOOL CHOICE THEY ARE ALREADY IN.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY WEREN'T IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EARLIER SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS.

AND SO THEY ARE NOT COUNTED AS COMING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY ARE COUNTED AS ALREADY BEING IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> Renee: SURE.

AND PROFESSOR COHEN DID MENTION HOW IT'S NOT SCHOOL CHOICE IT'S THE SCHOOL'S CHOICE IN ORDER TO THEY COULD PICK AND DECIDE WHICH STUDENTS THEY WANTED TO ACCEPT.

I WANTED TO GET YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> THE SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATION PASSED HERE IN KENTUCKY, LEAVES THAT DECISION UP TO THE PARENTS.

HOUSE BILL 563, WOULD HAVE GIVEN PARENTS THE CONTROL OF THOSE DOLLARS AND WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE SPENT.

IT WASN'T ANY SCHOOL'S DECISION IT WAS THE PARENTS' DECISION AND THAT IS THE KEY IN SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS IT'S PARENTAL CHOICE THAT IS CREATING THE KAI UNANIMOUS McS IN STATES LIKE FLORIDA.

WHERE HALF A MILLION STUDENTS ARE IN PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATION, AND THEY ARE IMPROVING THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM DRAMATICALLY.

AND THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN FLORIDA AND KENTUCKY IS THEY HAVE MORE OPTIONS FOR PARENTS.

>> Renee: MILWAUKEE HAS A COUNTER EXPERIENCE.

THEY STARTED VOUCHERS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS 30 YEARS AGO WHEN ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM PUBLICLY FUNDED PRIVATE SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND INDEPENDENTSLY RUN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND 40% OF THE CITY'S STUDENTS AFTER 30 YEARS THERE'S LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT THE AVERAGE MILWAUKEE CHILD RECEIVES A HIGHER EDUCATION THAN THEY DID 30 YEARS AGO?

>> SO ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD OFFER PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE.

IF A SCHOOL IS NOT EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY DECIDE TO ENROLL THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE WHETHER THAT IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A CHARTER SCHOOL, THAT'S THE GREATEST TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY YOU CAN HAVE IS PARENTS MAKING THAT DECISION NOT SOME STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PERSONNEL AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT CHILD NEEDS AS MUCH AS THE PARENT DOES.

>> Renee: Mr. ADAMS?

>> ECONOMIC POLICY CENTER IN ANOTHER STATE I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT THAT SOMEBODY SHARED WITH ME.

EDDIE CAMPBELL IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

THE RESEARCH THAT PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS KY PUTS OUT CITING ALL OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS IT'S COMING FROM THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ON THEIR TAX STATEMENTS, EDDIE CAMPBELL IS LISTED AS A DIRECTOR.

IS THAT A DIFFERENT EDDIE CAMPBELL?

IS THE KEA PRESIDENT A DIRECTOR ON THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY.

OR ARE THERE ARE TWO EDDIE CAMPBELLS?

THE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS PERFORMING WORSE, I THINK THERE'S THINGS MISLEADING THAT ARE COMING ON THIS MOVEMENT AGAINST AMENDMENT 2.

AND YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT SCHOOLS CAN CHOOSE YOUR CHILD.

I WANT TO SHARE THAT HIGHLIGHTS A PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS.

SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON EVERYTHING AND THEY ARE FOCUSING ON NOTHING WELL.

SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO CATER TO KEEP THEM THERE AND KEEP THE MONEY FLOWING.

WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE KENTUCKY SAFETY REPORT CARD IN KENTUCKY WILL SCHOOLS THERE WERE 7,000 ASSAULTS.

THERE WERE 18,000 STUDENTS BULLIED.

THIS IS WHAT IS ON THE CAMPUS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE SUSPENDED IN THE ENTIRE STATE?

30.

THERE WERE 30 STUDENTS EXPELLED IN KENTUCKY.

THERE WERE 13 31ST DEGREE ASSAULTS.

SO I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IF SCHOOLS ARE TALLYING A SCHOOL FOR ALL, KIDS HAVE GOTTEN HURT AND TRAUMATIZED AT SCHOOL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT HAVING THE COURAGE TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE AND WE'RE NOT HAVING THE COURAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS RNTS' BEING HURT BY THEIR PEERS.

>> Renee: WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE KIDS WHO ARE THE PERPETRATOR OF THOSE ASSAULTS?

WHERE SHOULD THEY GO?

>> THEY THE CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL BE A GREAT THING FOR US TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND LET PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT TAKE FOLKS THAT COULD TAILOR TO THOSE NEEDS.

>> Renee: THAT IS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS WHAT I DID.

SO LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

OKAY.

A LOT OF TIMES THOSE KIDS THAT CAUSED PROBLEMS ARE SENT HOME AND PUT ON A CHROME BOOK.

AND THEY SIT ON A CHROME BOOK AND LEARN AT HOME.

WHENEVER I WOULD NOTICE KIDS ARE NOT LEARNING AND THIS KID IS FALLING BEHIND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET HIM A DIPLOMA.

WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE CAN CUT OUT PROGRAMS THAT DON'T WORK, A DISCIPLINARY PROGRAM RESTORATIVE CARE PROGRAMS THAT REPLACED DISCIPLINE AND STRUCTURE.

>> Renee: THIS SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> IT'S WREAKED HAVOC IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> THE WHOLE CHILD CONCEPT.

>> I THINK THE QUESTION THAT CAME IN IS BASICALLY WHERE DO THE DOLLARS COME FROM?

IF I RECALL GOING BACK TO THAT.

AND I THINK A CRITICAL QUESTION THERE IS YOU KNOW THERE'S TWO WAYS TO BALANCE A BUDGE BUDGET.

IT'S NOT COMPLICATED YOU REDUCE EXPENSES OR INCREASE REVENUE.

WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS THE LAND SCAPE AND ARIZONA THAT WAS CITED, WE LOOK AT INDIANA, WE LOOK AT OHIO, WE LOOK AT FLORIDA, FLORIDA'S $4 BILLION NOW INTO IT.

AND CANNOT TELL US WITH ANY CERTAINTY BECAUSE FLORIDA WON'T LET ANYONE INTO TO THE STATE THAT PROVIDES AN OBJECTIVE OPINION OUTSIDE OF SOMEONE THAT IS HIRED TO GIVE THAT OPINION.

AND I THINK ARIZONA AND OHIO BOTH ADD A BILLION INTO THE COST.

NOW WE LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES ACADEMICALLY AGAIN FROM OBJECTIVE, INDEPENDENT EVIDENCE OHIO VOUCHERS ARE NEGATIVE ZERO POINT 5.

LUIS LUIS VOUCHERS 0.4.

>> Renee: WHAT IS THE NEGATIVE IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC SCORING?

>> IN TERMS OF GROWTH IT'S REGRESSION THAT'S OCCURRED BY THE STATE INTRODUCING VOUCHERS.

INDIANA 0.15.

THE THING ABOUT THIS IS IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, OKAY, IF THE YES VOTERS WIN TO WHAT END THAT WE'RE NOT UNDETERMINABLE IN TERMS OF HOW IT AFFECTS POSITIVELY STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

I WOULD APPEAL THOSE CONSERVATIVES IS THESE STATES ARE SPENDING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS AND KNTS' TELL YOU?

WHERE THE OUTCOME IS.

AND THEN THE OTHER POINT I THINK I WANT TO MAKE HERE THAT I CANNOT FIND ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME A COGENT ANSWER TO THIS.

75% ON AVERAGE OF VOUCHER RECIPIENTS ACROSS VOUCHER STATES WERE ALREADY STUDENTS OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> Renee: HE SAID THE SAME, Mr.

WATERS.

HE SAID THAT.

>> THOSE -- THESE ARE THE SAME STUDENTS WHO YESTERDAY UNFUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, OKAY, WERE STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL TOMORROW FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AT A TUNE OF 75%.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE MANY OF THE FAMILIES WERE STRUGGLING TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A BETTER EDUCATION.

AND I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP FAMILIES WHO DON'T HAVE LARGE INCOMES.

>> Renee: WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

>> 75%.

HOW MUCH CHOICE YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS HOW MUCH CHOICE DO PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THREE OUT OF FOUR WERE STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT LEAVES 25% FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO GO FOR.

>> AND NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THESE OTHER STATES TRYING TO SAY THAT KENTUCKY SHOULD DO THIS BECAUSE SOME OTHER STATE DID IT THAT REMINDS ME WHEN I MOM USED TO SAY IF EVERYBODY ELSE IS JUMPING OFF A CLIFF DOES THAT MEAN YOU NEED TO DO SO AS WELL?

THAT HAS NO RATIONAL LOGIC BECAUSE OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT WE SHOULD DO IT.

AS MATT POINTED OUT THEY DON'T HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS.

THE OTHER THING IS KENTUCKY IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THIS.

IT IS NOT A GOOD MATCH.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE, THERE ARE IN THREE COUNTIES HAVE 52% OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS 33% OF THEM ALONE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

THAT 80% OF KENTUCKY'S PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE LOCATED IN JUST EIGHT ZIP CODES OF OUR STATE.

MOST COUNTIES MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR THEIR CHILD TO CHOOSE.

THERE IS NO CHOICE AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

AND SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS RURAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR FUNDING FORMULA WORKS ARE GOING TO BE SENDING MONEY TO THE WEALTHIER COUNTIES AND TO THE TRIANGLE AS WE KNOW IT IN OUR STATE AND THAT'S WHERE THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE AND WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MOST IRRITATING TO ME THAT I HEAR ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IS HOW MUCH MONEY IT'S COSTING IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

WE DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE IS THAT WITH KENTUCKY SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, JEFFERSON COUNTY TAXPAYERS THEMSELVES FUND 80% OF THE COST OF EDUCATION IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

THE STATE ONLY PROVIDES 20% OF THAT COST.

THAT'S THE WAY OUR FUNDING FORMULA WORKS.

WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE, STRONG, TAX BASE THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS BEAR THE BRUNT NOT THE STATE.

SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE CASE OF FUNDING FOR A VOUCHER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY MOST LIKELY AT MOST IT COULD BE THE SAME AMOUNT THAT THE STATE CONTRIBUTES TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT WHICH IS $2400 IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> Renee: THAT IS A QUESTION IS HOW MUCH WHEN STATES THAT HAVE VOUCHERS, THE AVERAGE VOUCHER IS $7,000.

DO THE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS DO THEY KEEP THE TUITION AT SUCH A RATE WHERE SOMEONE OF A LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS CAN AFFORD TO STILL GO THERE?

OR DO THEY HAVE TO PONY UP ANOTHER FIVE, SEVEN, 10, 15,000 DOLLARS TO TRY TO GET INTO A SCHOOL ALLEGEDLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN LIKE THEIR CHILD?

>> WE'RE FINDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT SCHOOLS OF CHOICE ARE WORKING WITH PARENTS TO FIND A WAY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEIR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS NOT FUND A SYSTEM NOT PROP UP A SYSTEM IT'S TO EDUCATE THE STUDENTS.

WHATEVER THAT TAKES.

THAT'S WHY WE SEE SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS EDUCATING KIDS AT HALF THE COST OR LESS THAN IN OUR PUBLIC SYSTEM.

WE HAVE INCREASED FUNDING IN KENTUCKY PER PUPIL FUNDING BY 122%.

WE ARE NOW SPENDING MORE THAN $20,000 PER PUPIL WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THE REVENUE SOURCES TOGETHER THAT IS STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL THE POINT IS THEY ARE ALL FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS.

SO I WONDER ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IF THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOMES AND HAPPY WITH THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS I JUST HEAR WHAT THE OTHER SIDE'S AGAINST WE'RE AGAINST OFFERING PARENTS CHOICE.

WE'RE AGAINST EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE AND YET WE'RE FOR OFFERING PARENTS MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS IS NOT AN EITHER OR OPTION TO FIT THEIR NARRATIVE IT HAS TO BE EITHER OR.

OURS IS AS RANDY SAID BOTH AND THAT WE FIND IN STATES LIKE FLORIDA AND THE DATA COMES FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES.

THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN ABOUT SOURCES.

BUT IT COMES FROM THEIR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THAT SHOWS THE MORE CHOICES FLORIDA'S PARENTS HAVE HAD THE BETTER THE PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS PERFORMED.

A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS.

WE JUST RELEASED AN ANALYSIS OF TEACHER PAY.

TEACHERS ARE BENEFITING ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM SCHOOL CHOICE THEY ARE HAVING MORE OPTIONS WHERE THEY WANT TO TEACH.

IF THEY WANT TO TEACH IN A SAFER SCHOOL THEY HAVE THAT OPTION AND SEEING INCREASES IN THEIR PAY ACROSS THE BOARD, PUBLIC, CHARTER AND PRIVATE.

>> THERE'S TWO INCORRECT STATEMENTS JUST MADE THERE.

WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL CHOICE.

CHOICE ALREADY EXISTS.

THIS DOES NOT CREATE ANY CHOICE THAT WASN'T ALREADY THERE.

WHAT IT DOES IT TAKES PUBLIC DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THAT CHOICE.

IT IS A MEANS OF PRIVATIZATION.

THIS IS A MEANS OF TAKING MONEY THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMON GOOD FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TAKING IT AND SENDING IT TO UNACCOUNTABLE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL CHOICE.

SCHOOL CHOICE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAS BEEN THERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

WE'RE -- WE DON'T OPPOSE SCHOOL CHOICE WE OPPOSE TAKING PUBLIC DOLLARS AND SENDING THEM TO UNACCOUNTABLE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THE SECOND THING IS THE FACT YOUR NUMBERS ABOUT THE SPENDING ARE COMPLETELY INACCURATE AND FALSE BECAUSE YOU ARE INCLUDING IN THAT AUNT IS PUTTING IN TO FUND THE UNFUNDED PENSION SYSTEM.

>> ISN'T THAT TO HELP TEACHERS?

DIDN'T THEY BENEFIT FROM THAT SYSTEM?

>> THEY ARE PAYING BACK THE LIABILITY NOT FUNDED IN THE PAST.

NOT PART OF ANNUAL SPEND SNOOK YOUR FIRST POINT WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO CHOICE.

THIS IS REALLY A FORM OF ELITISM I'VE BEEN SURPRISED AT IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE OUR GOVERNOR SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO CHOICE YOU HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE.

YEAH, BE DO HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE AND I AGREE IF YOU ARE A WEALTHY FAMILY IN KENTUCKY YOU HAVE CHOICE.

YOU CAN WRITE A CHECK TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL TO COVER THE TUITION YOU AND UP AND MOVE TO A BETTER PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THAT IS THE THING WE DON'T HEAR AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THERE ARE FAILING SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE.

WE'VE GOT MORE THAN HALF OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FAILING TO REACH PROFICIENCY AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH ABOUT THAT.

BUT, YEAH WE DO HAVE CHOICE.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LARGE INCOME OR YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.

AND WE'RE SAYING BY DENYING CHOICE IS SAYING THAT WE THINK THAT UNLESS PARENTS HAVE THE MONEY THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND WE DISAGREE WITH THAT.

>> THAT MONEY IN OUR SCHOOLS IS THAT I LOOKED AT KDE MONEY IN A TEACH AREA CLASSROOM.

I BELIEVE PARENTS HAVE BEEN SO SHUTOUT BY OUR SCHOOLS.

WE SAW PARENTS SHOW UP TO A MEETING AND THEY WERE IGNORED CONCERNED ABOUT A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR HAVING INAPPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH A STUDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD DID NOTHING.

PARENTS ARE TIRED OF BEING MISLED AND IT'S NOT THE TEACHERS' FAULT.

ARE WE FAMILIAR WITH THE IMPACT STUDY IN KENTUCKY USED TO BE CALLED THE TALE SURVEY WHEN TEACHERS VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE.

DO YOU KNOW THAT 94% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS SAID THEY HAD TO SPEND MONEY OUT OF THEIR POCKETS FOR SUPPLIES.

I WANT TO MENTION THIS.

I WENT TO THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE AND LOOKING AT PER PUPIL SPENDING AND TEACHER SALARY YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS DPLING TO MOST TEACHERS IF YOU HAD TO AVERAGE CLASS SIZE OF 25, 12% OF THE BUDGET.

WHERE IS THE OTHER 88% GOING?

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUDGETS LET'S TALK ABOUT SPENDING THE MONEY WISELY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

IT'S GOING AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM AND I WANT TO POINT OUT OF COURSE YOU HAVE BUS DRIVERS AND LUNCH STAFF, AND YOU NEED CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT TEAR THAT ARGUMENT APART.

SINCE 2000 TEACHERS AND STUDENT POPULATIONS HAVE GROWN AT THE SAME RATE, ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS HAVE GROWN 37% AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF 88%.

THE MONEY IS FLOWING AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM AND FURTHER FROM OUR KIDS.

I SUPPORT TEACHERS RAISES BUT THE MONEY'S THERE IT'S BEEN FLOWED WAY FROM THE CLASSROOM AND AWAY FROM WHAT TEACHERS NEED.

WE DON'T NEED 94% OF TEACHERS SPENDING MONEY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET.

WE NEED TO PUT THE MONEY BACK WHERE IT BELONGS.

>> Renee: Mr. ROBINS.

>> I HEAR WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM BUT THAT IS CATEGORICALLY WRONG IN 2008 WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING PER PUPIL IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, VERSUS 2024, WHEN WE STARTED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION WE WERE BACK 1200 PER STUDENT.

ACROSS KENTUCKY.

AND THAT'S BASED ON INFLATION.

>> IS THAT THE SEEK FUNDING.

>> THAT IS JUST ONE PART.

THAT IS JUST ONE REF FEW STREAM FOR STUDENTS.

>> IT IS PRIMARY.

>> YOU HAVE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS AND FEDERAL DOLLARS.

>> THE PRIMARY STATE.

>> SPENDING INCREASED.

>> THE PRIMARY STATE VEHICLE PER PUPIL.

LET ME FINISH HERE.

SO THE CONCEPT HERE IS THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY FLOWING TO THE CLASSROOM.

WELL, WHEN WE HAVE FRANKFORT POLITICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN DARE LCTS IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THE AMOUNT PER PUPIL IS SOMEWHAT APPROXIMATING DPLATION AREA INCREASES OVER TIME YOU SEE IT'S NOT EASY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE TEACHER DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL WHEN WE ARE BEHIND A THOUSAND DOLLARS NOW.

>> NEW JOBS ADDED.

>> IF I HAVE ONE PERSON AND INCREASE IT BY TWO, WHAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE?

>> 50%.

>> AND 30%?

>> I SEE YOUR POINT.

>> STOP.

STOP.

BECAUSE THAT -- >> Renee: ONE AT A TIME.

>> ALL I HAVE TO DO IS ADD ONE ADMINISTRATOR AND THAT IS A 50% INCREASE.

I SAW THAT GRAPH AND IT IS SO FLAWED IN TERMS OF WHAT IT'S TRYING TO DEPICT VERSUS IF I HAD 30 TEACHERS AND ADD ONE.

>> Renee: QUESTIONS THAT VIEWERS ARE SENDING IN.

Mr. ADAMS YOU JOE BIDENNED AMENDMENT 2, LGBTQ KIDS COULD BE SENT TO THEIR OWN SCHOOLS AND MAKE THEM MORE COMFORTABLE.

THIS SOUNDS READING FROM THE READERS THE VIEWERS' QUESTION LIKE SEG GATION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS NOT SEGREGATION BY ANOTHER NAME?

>> FIRST POINT, THE 94% OF TEACHERS SPENDING MONEY OUT OF THEIR POCKETS THAT IS NOT CATEGORICALLY LONG.

THE LGBTQ ISSUES THAT IS A CRAZY EXAGGERATION OF WHAT I SAID THAT IS THE ISSUE IN OUR SCHOOLS WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RELATING TO THE COMMON VALUES OF KENTUCKY.

PARENTS DON'T WANT THEIR KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL AND BEING SEXUALIZED BY PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS IT IS A CRAZY IDEA TO MENTION I WAS HINTING AT THAT.

I WAS IN EDUCATION IN A CLASSROOM AS A PRINCIPAL FOR OVER A DECADE.

I DID NOT HAVE ONE COMPLAINT AGAINST ME FOR DISRESPECTING A STUDENT.

I KNEW THAT EVERY STUDENT THAT WALKED IN MY SCHOOL WHETHER THEY SHARED THE SAME BELIEFS I WAS GOING TO BE RESPECTFUL TOWARDS AND I SAW SO MANY TEACHERS DOING A GREAT JOB WHO DISAGREED WITH ME BUT THEY DID THE SAME THING.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS OUR KEA THEY DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOLS TO STOP PUSHING THE IDEAS.

THERE IS A GROUP CALLED BETTER SCHOOLS KENTUCKY THAT IS FLOWING A LOT OF MONEY AGAINST AMENDMENT 2.

I WILL CHALLENGE TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE.

BETTER SCHOOLS KENTUCKY LOOK IT UP.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE IDEA ON THE WEBSITE TO MAKE KENTUCKY SCHOOLS BETTER.

IT HAS A LIST OF TWO CANDIDATES.

INSTEAD OF GETTING DISTRACTED BY THE ISSUES AND TRYING TO PAINT ME AS A HORRIBLE PERSON LET ME SAY WHAT IF I WERE YOUR CHILD'S PRINCIPAL AND YOU DISAGREED WITH ME, WOULDN'T YOU WANT SCHOOL CHOICE THEN?

WHAT IF I WERE THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OR THE NEXT GOVERNOR APPOINTED ME.

TEACHERS AND PARENTS NEED TO VOTE YES ON 2.

RIGHT NOW VOTING NO MIGHT SEEM RIGHT BUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THEY MIGHT REGRET GIVING THEMSELVES THE RIGHT TO CHANNEL THE FUNDING.

I'M OKAY IF PEOPLE DISLIKE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO AUTOMATICALLY, CALL ME NAMES.

BUT I AM STANDING UP SO PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND BE LIED TO WHAT IS GOING ON I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHEN SENATE BILL 150 ARE ON THE BOOKS.

THE ISSUES TEACHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT ON THE IMPACT SURVEY THE GROUPS ARE NOT TRYING TO ADDRESS THE BEHAVIOR, THE DISRESPECT AND THE TEACHER SHORTAGE THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM.

AND AMENDMENT 2 IS THE SOLUTION.

>> Renee: OKAY.

FROM LEXINGTON, NEXT QUESTION COULD VOUCHERS BE USED FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL EDUCATION?

WHAT ABOUT SCHOOLS THAT MIGHT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST REGULARS RELIGIONS OF KIDS.

>> THOSE DECISIONS WOULD BE MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE IF AMENDMENT 2 PASSES.

LET ME POINT OUT WE ALREADY HAVE FUNDING THAT HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION USE FOR ALL KINDS OF SCHOOLS.

THE GI BILL, THE PELL GRANT WE HAVE PUBLIC DOLLARS USED ALREADY FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.

IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT GIVING MONEY TO THE SCHOOLS, IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL OR IN THIS CASE, WITH SCHOOL CHOICE IT WOULD BE THE PARENTS MAKING THAT DECISION.

AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MADE A DIG DISTINCT -- BIG DISTINCTION BETWEEN SCHOOLS GIVING MONEY GOVERNMENT GIVING MONEY TO SCHOOLS VERSUS PARENTS DECIDING OR INDIVIDUALS DECIDING.

WE ALREADY HAVE THAT AND I WANT TO ADD I DISAGREE THAT LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN DEREK LICK IN THEIR DUTY.

>> Renee: FOR FUNDING HE WAS SAYING.

>> THE PAST COUPLE OF BUDGET SESSIONS THEY'VE GIVEN RECORD AMOUNTS OF INCREASED FUNDING LUMP SUM FUNDING TO LOCAL DISTRICTS AND THEY'VE SAID YOU DO WITH IT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE TEACHERS RAISES HERE.

IF YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS A PROGRAM OR NEED A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM OR THEY NEED AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT, USE IT IN THE WAY YOU SEE FIT.

TEACHERS WORK FOR THEIR DISTRICTS.

THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE STATE.

I THINK IT IS A WRONG TO SAY LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN DERELICT IN FUNDING THEY HAVE INCREASED FUNDING AND THE SEEK FUNDING HAS BEEN STAGNANT.

BUT OVERALL FUNDING HAS INCREASED.

>> I HAVE TO POINT THAT OUT THERE.

SO, YES, I WILL SAY THAT THEY HAVE NOT PUT STRINGS ATTACHED IN TERMS OF PRIOR LEGISLATURES THAT HAVE TIED A PERCENTAGE RAISE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAD TO GIVE.

SO I WILL GIVE YOU THAT.

BUT RECORD FUNDING?

WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT THE MATH ON THAT.

BECAUSE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

>> IT'S GIVEN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

>> BUT THAT IS NOT RECORD.

>> RECORD AMOUNTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF BUDGETS.

>> NO, THEY HAVE NOT.

NOT OVER AND ABOVE THE PERCENTAGE OF YEARS.

>> IT'S BEEN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

>> I SAY ADDITIONAL FUNDING BUT THAT IS A LONG WAY AWAY FROM RECORD WHICH IS WHAT YOU SAID.

>> .

>> Renee: LET'S PUT THAT POINT ASIDE.

Mr. SHELTON?

>> JUST ONE THING ABOUT THAT AND I WANTED TO GET WHAT I DIDN'T FINISH EARLIER.

I COULD GIVE DOLL 1 MORE THAN I GAVE LAST YEAR AND IT WOULD BE RECORD FUNDING WE'RE GIVING MORE FUNDING THAN WE'VE EVER GIVEN TO EDUCATION IF YOU GIVE YOU ONE DOLLAR MORE THAT'S RECORD LEVEL FUNDING.

THE POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE EARLIER IS TO MATT'S POINT ABOUT GOING BACK TO 2008, IN 2008, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS PROVIDING 60% OF THE COST OF FUNDING EDUCATION INTO THE SEEK FORMULA.

SEEK FORMULA IS NOT JUST STATE FUNDING IT'S STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING IT IS A BLENDED FORMULA.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS PROVIDING 60%.

TODAY THEY PROVIDE 40%.

YOU KNOW WHO PACE THE OTHER 20%?

LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN, TAXPAYERS WILL TAKE THE BURDEN HIT BECAUSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THEIR LOCAL TAXES BECAUSE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOT FUNDING AT THE LEVEL TO MATCH INFLATION TO MATT'S POINT.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN RURAL DISTRICTS WILL SIT AROUND RURAL IN PARTICULAR WILL SIT AROUND AND SAY OKAY, DO WE CUT PEOPLE OR DO WE CUT PROGRAMS?

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT WE MAY HAVE TO CUT THE ARTS WE MAY HAVE TO CUT BAND AND EXTRACURRICULAR.

WE MAY HAVE TO CUT OUR SPORTS PROGRAMS BECAUSE IF THE STATE IS NOT FUNDING AT THE LEVEL THAT IT SHOULD, AND THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS ARE EXPECTING THAT THEIR TAXES ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE HONE HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS RAISING TAXES OR CUTTING PROGRAMS.

>> Renee: Mr. BILLY PARKER FROM SCOTT COUNTY RESEMBLES YOUR REMARKS 98,000 STUDENTS IN KENTUCKY THAT ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR HOME SCHOOLED IF THE FUNDING IS GIVEN TO THESE STUDENTS $326 THAT WILL RESULT IN $400 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.

TO THE QUESTION OR THE COMMENT ABOUT RURAL KENTUCKY, VIEWER FROM HARTFORD SAYS Mr. ADAMS FAILS TO MENTION HE IS ADVOCATING FOR REDISTRIBUTING TAX DOLLARS FROM RURAL AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE AND WILL NOT HAVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO SELECT URBAN AREAS.

DO YOU WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION.

I'M IN ANDERSON COUNTY A RURAL COMMUNITY.

WHEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WENT AGAINST THE VALUES OF PARENTS WE WENT TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THERE WAS ONE THERE.

NOW, HERE'S THE THING.

LET'S SAY YOU ARE IN A COMMUNITY AND THERE IS NOT A SCHOOL.

GUESS WHAT?

WITH THIS NEW MECHANISM TEACHERS CAN START A SCHOOL.

THE TEACHERS THAT ARE REPORTING ON THE IMPACT SURVEY THEY ARE OVERWHELMED, THEY CAN CREATE A SCHOOL THAT IS BASED ON A SPECIFIC PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION THAT PARENTS THEY WANT AND NEED.

WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS AND WHAT IT WILL DO TO THE COMMUNITIES, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID.

KENTUCKY IS ONE OF TWO STATES WHO HAS HELD OUT AND NOT PROVIDED ANYTHING.

WE HAVE TO AT SOME POINT LEARN AND LOOK WHY IS THIS GROWING IN WILD POPULARITY WHY IS PARENT SATISFACTION HIGH IN OTHER STATES IF IT DECIMATES COMMUNITIES.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT ONLY KIDS ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOL ARE GOING TO BENEFIT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME SCHOOLS WILL SHUT DOWN AND LOSE MONEY.

THOSE ARGUMENTS FALL IN ON EACH OTHER.

WHICH ONE IS IT?

IF THEY ARE STAYING PUT HOW IS THE MONEY GOING TO FLOW AWAY FROM SCHOOLS.

OUR MONEY IS BEING MISMANAGED AND ONE LAST THING, AND THIS IS A STORY FROM WDRB FROM MAY 31, 2018.

A NEWS STORY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MONEY MANAGEMENT.

JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS QUIETLY PAYS OUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SETTLEMENTS TO CHILDREN WHO WERE TORMENTED ATTACKED IN LOUISVILLE SCHOOLS AND TAXPAYERS COVER THE COST.

THAT IS A VERY ALARMING STORY.

>> Renee: WHICH WE DON'T KNOW THE CRUX OF BECAUSE YOU GAVE A QUICK SUMMATION.

>> BUT THE REALITY IS OUR SCHOOLS PAYING OUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND AS A GAG ORDER WE'LL PAY YOU BECAUSE YOUR CHILD SUFFERED A HORRIBLE EVENT AT SCHOOL AND DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

HOW MANY PARENTS AND SCHOOLS ARE GOING -- GIVE US A SAFE SCHOOL WHERE OUR KIDS CAN COME AND LEARN.

IT'S LIP SERVICE.

AND THEN WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS WE PAY THEM OFF AND NO ADMINISTRATORS OR TEACHERS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM ARE DEALT WITH.

IT'S PAID OFF SO THE SCHOOL CAN AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THOUGH, PRIVATE SCHOOLS THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE OPEN MEETING OR OPEN RECORDS LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> Renee: THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW KED GUIDELINES.

>> NOT PRIVATE SCHOOLS DON'T.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE OPEN MEETINGS LIKE BOARD MEETINGS OR COUNCIL MEETINGS THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE OPEN RECORDS.

THEY DON'T HAVE AUDITS.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IF WE THINK THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHOULD GET PUBLIC MONEY THEN WHY WOULD THEY THINK THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO TEACH WHATEVER THEY WANT TO TEACH, WHATEVER CURRICULUM THEY WANT TO SET ASIDE WHEN WE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE TO DO WHATEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT TELLS US TO TEACH INTEREST TOM THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE THERE IS AN OLD ADD DAMAGE HE WHO HAS THE PURSE HAS THE POWER.

AND I'M STARTING TO HEAR THIS IN OTHER STATES PARTICULARLY WHERE THEY ARE SPENDING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF NEW COST ON VOUCHERS AND THEY ARE NOT REALLY FINDING THE INCREASE IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

THAT'S OCCURRING THERE.

IN FACT MAYBE IT'S DECLINING.

SO THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHERE ARE ALL THE DOLLARS GOING AND FINDING ABSURD EXAMPLES IN TERMS OF WHERE THIS MONEY IS SPENT.

I WANT TO GET BACK -- >> Renee: STICK ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE.

Mr.

WATERS ANSWER THAT ABOUT THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY, THE CURRICULUM.

>> SO Mr. SHELTON STILL REDUCES TO DESIGNATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC CHAFORTER SCHOOL AND A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

>> Renee: TO SOME THEY WOULD BE FREE -- OWE.

>> THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED HOWEVER THE LEGISLATION IS SETUP.

THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS TWO DIFFERENCES, ONE IS THE CHARTER SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN CHARGE.

HE DOES AHAVE TO CALL THE BRUR CONTRACT AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO MAKE DECISIONS WHO TO HIRE OR FIRE.

HE IS NOT BEHOLDENNED TO THE UNIONS WHO TO HIRE.

THE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AND A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL IS PARENTS DECIDE TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN A CHARTER SCHOOL.

THAT IS THE ULTIMATE ACCOUNTABILITY FACTOR.

IF YOU SAY THAT PARENTS ARE ENROLLING THEIR CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN ARE FAILING, YOU ARE ACCUSING PARENTS OF NOT GIVING THEIR CHILDREN THE BEST OPPORTUNITY.

WE KNOW THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND DOING GREAT THINGS WE ARE NOT HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT SOLUTIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

ONE OTHER THING IS, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION HAS FOUND THAT SEVEN IN 10 RURAL AMERICAN FAMILIES LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AND THERE'S TWO IN JACKSON COUNTY.

I FOUND ONE OF THE MOST RURAL COUNTIES IN OUR STATE THIS IDEA THERE AREN'T OPTIONS AND THIS MONEY WOULD LEAVE THE RURAL COMMUNITY AND GO TO THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE IS NONSENSE AND IT IS A DISTRACTION.

WE OUGHT TO BE FUNDING STUDENTS AND NOT PROPPING UP A FAILING SYSTEM.

>> Renee: THE TUITION, THOUGH.

THE TUITION AT THE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS DOES IT REMAIN THE SAME?

DO THEY ELEVATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF NEW STUDENTS THEY CAN GET THAT COULD PRICE OUT OF THE MARKET OTHER CHILDREN?

DOES THE TUITION STAY THE SAME?

>> THEY ARE NOT -- IF THEY PRICE THEMSELVES OUT THEY WILL NOT BE THERE.

>> Renee: I'M TALKING ABOUT NEW KIDS WHO ARE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE TUITION SUCH A LEVEL THAT THE KIDS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY?

>> SO $7,000 VERSUS THE 20,000 WE'RE SPENDING IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM NOT ALL THAT MONEY IS GOING TO FOLLOW THE STUDENT.

SOME DOLLARS WILL.

BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

AND SO THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR MORE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE.

>> ONE THING I THINK HAS TO BE POINTED OUT THERE IS ONE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, WE DON'T HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY.

THEY DON'T EXIST.

>> AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE SUED TO STOP IT.

>> WE WERE FINE WITH THE LAW WHEN IT WAS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

I STATED CLEARLY EARLIER WHEN WE SUED WAS WHEN PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS WERE ADDED TO THE LAW WHEN IT CHANGED.

>> HERE'S THE OTHER DIFFERENCE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS THE WAY YOU DELIVER EDUCATION, SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT IS THE BEST AT MAKE SURE KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THE EDUCATION BUT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS THE DELIVER FER BEST DRIVERRER OF IT.

THE CHARTER SCHOOLS TAKE THE SAME CURRICULUM AND DELIVER IT MORE EFFECTIVELY.

>> Renee: WE'LL GET TO THAT.

>> MY LAST POINT I CAN MAKE IS THAT THE OTHER POINT STARTED TALKING ABOUT UNIONS.

THERE ARE NO TEACHER UNIONS IN KENTUCKY.

AND KEA IS NOT A UNION.

>> JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

>> WE HAVE THREE DISTRICTS OUT OF 171.

>> THREE THAT HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.

>> THEY ARE NOT UNIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STRIKE.

STRIKING IN KENTUCKY IS ILLEGAL FOR A TEACHER.

THERE ARE NO TEACHER UNIONS.

TRYING TO USE THE ADD DAMAGE AT THE OTHER STATES DO ABOUT UNIONS.

>> OPPOSING AMENDMENT 2 ON THE WEBSITES AND USING TAXPAYER FUNDED RESOURCES.

>> THEY HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> HE'S TALKING ABOUT HOW AVAILABLE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE.

BY THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER.

>> Renee: ECONOMIC POLICY A PROGRESSIVE LEANING THINK TANK.

>> THEY HAVE NO ECONOMIST THERE.

>> 63% OF COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY HAVE ZERO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

63%.

SO THEN GOING BACK TO THERE'S 80% OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT EXIST IN EIGHT ZIP CODES CAN YOU SEE THE WEALTH SHIFT TO THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, TO LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAT WOULD OCCUR BY THIS POLICY.

>> Renee: A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO ASKED HOW WOULD THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IMPACT HOME SCHOOLS?

>> THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THE LANGUAGE ON IT IS TO EMPOWER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OUR GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A PLAN IN THERE.

AT THIS POINT NOT AT ALL.

I WOULD URGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE YES AND 2 AND WHENEVER A POLICY IS DESIGNED THEN TO WEIGH-IN YOUR VOICE.

I KNOW HOME SCHOOL FAMILIES THEY DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT REACHING IN THEIR HOMES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT 100% BECAUSE OF THE INEFFICIENCY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY IT SAYS SCHOOLS SHOULD BE EFFICIENT AND WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT.

>> Renee: THIS HAS BEEN A RIGOROUS DISCUSSION SO WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE IT AGAIN BEFORE NOVEMBER 5 AND WE WILL BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THEY ARE ALREADY BOOKED TO BE HERE.

NEXT WEEK WE HAVE A SPECIAL ON THE ROADSHOW FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY WHERE WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THERE, THE PROGRESS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND EACH WEEKNIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN ON KENTUCKY EDITION WE TALK ABOUT ALL THIS STILL TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOAN US THEN.

UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN, TAKE REALLY GREAT CARE.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.