Diocese urges support for Amendment 2 from teachers at professional development sessions

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

With the 2024–2025 school year on the horizon, the diocesan Schools Office brought in teachers for professional development days, occurring over four sessions divided by grade level, Aug. 1–2, at St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger.

The sessions, which began with presentations and reflections by Chris Padgett, author, musician and cofounder of CenterForHolyMarriage.com, geared teachers for the upcoming school year with information on new programs and interests of the Diocese of Covington’s schools.

One such interest is the promotion of the upcoming Amendment 2 on the Kentucky ballot for November’s election, posing the question, “To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financialsupport for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?”— with the amending text reading “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.”

“Yes on 2” promotes school choice, and the Diocese of Covington vouches for voting “Yes” on the ballot this fall.

Kendra McGuire, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, brought this interest to the attention of teachers during each session. For the upcoming school year, diocesan interest in serving under-represented communities is increasing. Programs such as the inclusion of the FIRE Foundation, which seeks to make Catholic schools accessible to students with disabilities, are being implemented in the new year.

“Another hindrance that we see especially in all our schools is finances,” said Mrs. McGuire. “Finances sometimes are a barrier to serving our families.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the responsibility of education for children, and as such, Mrs. McGuire said, “Parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to their own convictions. This right is fundamental.”

Two years ago, the Vatican published a document called “The Identity of a Catholic School for a Cultural Dialogue,” which stated that, according to Mrs. McGuire, “a distinctive feature of the ecclesial nature of our schools is that it is a school for all, especially the weakest.”

Historically, Catholic schools were established by religious to serve the neediest populations — this mission remains.

Mrs. McGuire stressed that the passing of Amendment 2 won’t take away from public school funding, which is required to remain fully funded by law of the Kentucky Constitution — but would allow money to “follow the student” to allow for families a wider range of choice for education, regardless of financial barriers.

As of 2024, 33 states in the United States have some sort of school choice program or charter school law in effect, including every state bordering Kentucky.

If the amendment passes, no immediate programs will become effective, but it will allow “state legislators to listen to constituents across the state to choose to establish or not establish a school choice program in Kentucky,” Mrs. McGuire said. “I hope you will consider voting yes so that we can help all students in our state choose the school that’s best for them.”

“This is the moment for us in making an effort towards school choice,” she continued, “If it doesn’t pass in November, then we are out of options for these children.”