School choice supporters were at the Capitol this morning speaking out in favor of legislation that would amend the state constitution to allow taxpayer money to fund private school education.

Among those voicing their support for House Bill 208 students who said private schools help them succeed when public schools failed them.

When I say school, you say choice.

School to school choice.

In Kentucky, for too long, we have denied families one of their most critical choices.

We denied families the ultimate power, the freedom to decide how their children are educated.

Because you may not be as financially secure as the others does not mean you should not have the right to a quality education that will help you succeed in the future.

I started off as a refugee in Thailand and a third world country and now I'm standing in front of you as a college graduate with a full time job that really emphasized the education and choices that have gotten me to where I am today.

When we look at the societal issues that we have, economic disparity, you often hear the term that education can be the great equalizer.

And that's true.

But unfortunately, not every family, not every child has that equal opportunity.

A lot of children are mentally struggling because they are not being heard and they are being forced to do this and to do that with no opportunity to experience new environments, no choice to have a second to breathe, no choice but to hold out their feelings because they can't trust anyone at home or anyone in their school because they still exist.

It gives me it gives people like me a choice.

So you see, there's not only power in the choice to switch schools, but power to even have a choice to speak up, to take a break.

Every good or bad choice holds power.

Nine states now have provided universal choice.

They don't care where you go to school.

They don't care if you're going to go to religious school, a sectarian school, home school or whatever that nine states have said.

It makes no difference.

Your family income.

It makes no difference your household.

You can choose whatever school you want.

That's why that choice Kentucky hopes, will happen.

Representative Tipton, who you heard from in the story, is the co-sponsor of House Bill 208.

If the bill passes in both chambers, it would still have to be approved by Kentucky voters.