Colorado voters have rejected a proposal that would have likely protected school vouchers. The proposed Amendment 80, which aimed to enshrine school choice in the state Constitution, was defeated with 52 percent of voters opposed to it and 48 percent in support. This measure required 55 percent of the vote to be added to the state constitution. If passed, it would have stated that every K-12 child has the right to school choice and that parents have the right to direct their children’s education, including options such as charters, private schools, home schools, and future educational innovations.
Opponents of the amendment celebrated its defeat, with Kevin Vick, president of the Colorado Education Association, expressing relief that voters understood the potential implications of the ballot measure, which he believed would have led to the creation of a private school voucher system. A legislative analysis suggested that while the measure would not have had an immediate impact on education in Colorado, it could have paved the way for future changes in education laws and funding.
The vague wording of the amendment raised concerns about its potential consequences, with fears that it could have resulted in millions of dollars being diverted from public education. The campaign surrounding Amendment 80 drew significant funding from both sides, with allegations of deceptive practices being made against proponents. The complexity of the issue made it difficult for many voters to grasp its full implications.
One Denver voter, Kyle Slusher, initially supported the idea of giving children more options but changed his mind after learning more about the potential impacts on public school funding. The proposal was put forth by Advance Colorado, a conservative action committee, with support from various organizations advocating for school choice. However, a coalition opposing the measure, including education associations, parent-teacher associations, and civil liberties groups, argued that existing laws already provided for school choice without the need for a constitutional amendment.
While school choice is popular in Colorado, with a significant percentage of students attending schools outside their designated neighborhood schools, critics of Amendment 80 believed it was unnecessary and could potentially undermine public education. Proponents, on the other hand, saw it as a safeguard against any future attempts to limit school choice options for students.