Education

I believe in strong public schools that serve every child, regardless of income, zip code, or faith. That means standing against “school choice” schemes that siphon public dollars into private or religious schools. Kentucky’s Constitution requires that tax dollars fund our common schools, our public schools, and I will fight to keep it that way.

In Frankfort, politicians have supported efforts to change that. They have backed legislation such as House Bill 9 (2022), which created a funding mechanism for charter schools by diverting SEEK dollars away from public schools. They also supported House Bill 2 (2024), a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed taxpayer money to flow to private and religious schools under the banner of “school choice”. These bills open the door to vouchers and religious school funding, eroding the separation of church and state that protects both our schools and our communities.

I stand firmly against these attacks. Public dollars belong in public schools, not in private institutions, not in religious programs, and not in corporate experiments.

I will fight for:

• Full funding for public schools through SEEK, so classrooms have the resources they need.

• Local control and transparency, ensuring families, not politicians, shape the future of their schools.

• Separation of church and state, protecting both religious freedom and the integrity of our public education.

Strong public schools are the foundation of opportunity. When we invest in them, we invest in Kentucky’s future, and I’ll never stop fighting to keep our schools.