Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Kentucky voters have rejected Amendment 2, a proposal related to school choice. Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre expressed disappointment over the outcome but reaffirmed his commitment to helping families access Catholic education.

"We are disappointed in the defeat of Amendment 2. Efforts to enact programs to expand access to meaningful educational choice will continue to face significant constitutional obstacles," said Archbishop Fabre in a statement on November 5, after the polls closed.

Amendment 2 proposed altering the state constitution to allow lawmakers to allocate tax dollars for students attending non-public schools. According to the Associated Press, nearly 65% of voters opposed the amendment.

"Despite this setback, we remain committed to the principle that access to education is a right," stated Archbishop Fabre. "We will work with policymakers and all people of good will to provide access to educational opportunities that will open doors for all Kentucky students."

He also mentioned ongoing efforts through the Catholic Education Foundation to ensure Catholic education is accessible for families seeking it.

The Catholic Conference of Kentucky has been advocating for need-based school-choice legislation since the late 1990s. In 2021, a school-choice bill was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly with support from the conference. This bill aimed at creating Education Opportunity Accounts for financially needy students, which could be used for various educational purposes including tuition at non-public schools.

However, in 2022, this law was struck down by the Kentucky Supreme Court as it violated a section of the state constitution prohibiting state funding for non-public schools. Amendment 2 sought constitutional change on this matter.

Jason Hall, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, described this vote as "the last chapter" in their long-standing effort towards school choice.

"This resounding defeat of Amendment 2 closes the door on that project," he said during a phone interview. "Kentucky is not going to be a school-choice state any time soon."

Hall emphasized their continued commitment: "We're still committed to providing Catholic education any way we can. And we believe education access is a right." He suggested that while making Kentucky a school-choice state may no longer be feasible, more specific policies with popular support might emerge in future discussions.