Amendment 80 for Colorado 2024 proposes that school choice be added to the state’s constitution. School choice is the ability for students to have the ability to be financially supported in enrollment into any school of their choice. Schools that are available for enrollment would be public schools, private schools, homeschools, as well as any other educational innovation.

It’s important to note that Colorado in 1994 passed the public schools of choice law, which has allowed students to attend any public school or charter school regardless of residence inside of the respective school district. These newly included school types will be in addition and also will not be required to change any practices at their institution or be required to make their financial records public.

I believe that proposition 80 for the 2024 Colorado ballot should not be passed into the Colorado constitution. As someone who is in favor of individual choices in education, it is apparent that Amendment 80 will not in fact help families with obtaining better education.

This amendment to the state constitution gives private schools the ability to harvest state funding into private institutions. Private schools would be able to get taxpayer money like public schools, but won’t have to report on where the money is being spent, or abide by state regulated curriculum. Furthermore, it’s apparent that the constituents pushing this ballot are being supported by private institutions, looking to reap the benefits that the government can give without the rules being applied to themselves, which is why it’s apparent to me that a vote for the amendment  would be detrimental to the thin education budget we already have.

Proposition 80 for the 2024 Colorado ballot will only redirect funding away from Colorado public schools, which so many underprivileged children in K-12 already lack. The ballot states that parents “direct the education of their children; and that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, private, and home schools, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education”. This expansion of the previously established law passed in 1994 doesn’t help give individuals opportunity and education.

Not to mention, it states that parents will have the choice of the matter where their kid will go to school. Most parents will of course send their kid to the best schools, and those typically are private institutions. Public schools won’t be able to compete with the private schools for funding, as they already have a massive head start in the quality of education they provide. Passing proposition 80 will polarize the private and public education spheres and further impoverish public offerings to children K-12.

School choice being added to the state constitution will magnify the repercussions for years to come. By implementing the amendment to the Colorado state constitution, people in favor of this have cemented the law. State court reports website states that the state needs a, “55 percent supermajority vote for constitutional amendments”. This means that to remove the amendment from the constitution would take a great deal of work. All while private schools funnel funding from public schools and into their pockets. Funding from private institutions wouldn’t need to be published either, given their a private institution. The money would literally go “missing.”

I was once a pro school choice advocate. I believed that people deserved to not be restricted by the school district when being enrolled into a public school. I was told that school choice would help the poor gain better education. Of course some would see the passing of this bill and enroll their child into the nearest private school immediately. This however leaves the poorest of the students stuck if they can’t get to the respective school. This solves nothing and only causes problems with the already troubled education budget.

Quality public education for all children k-12 is desirable for everyone. Education is at the forefront against the war on poverty. It’s important however that we tread lightly with newly proposed solutions. Especially if added to the state’s constitution. With the world of politics being encroached by bad actors, it’s important to not move too hastily, less they get what they want and Colorado’s schools suffer.
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