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As Homeschool Advocates, We Fear the 'School Choice' Measure
Contrary to its stated purpose, Amendment 80 poses a serious threat to the educational choices of families.
by Carolyn Martin and Ari Armstrong
Copyright © 2024
The following article originally was published September 24, 2024, in the Aurora Sentinel. It was reproduced here on October 4.
On many large issues we disagree.
Carolyn, as part of Christian Home Educators of Colorado, values a Christian foundation for education. Ari is a secular homeschool dad. But we agree on the importance of Colorado parents having the freedom to guide the education of their children. We also agree that the so-called "school choice" ballot measure, Amendment 80 (originally Initiative 138), contrary to its stated purpose, poses a serious threat to the educational choices of families like ours.
In his recent op-ed, Aurora Councilmember Curtis Gardner claims that Amendment 80 will protect school choice, but he does not examine the language of the measure. The devil is in the details! Gardner also claims that "choice has been under attack at the State Legislature"—we assume he refers to efforts to restrict charter schools—but he doesn't explain how Amendment 80 might help. In fact, it is more likely to undermine the autonomy of charter schools.
We urge people to read the actual language of this proposed state Constitutional amendment (on page 64 of the Blue Book). Part of the measure states, "All children have the right to equal opportunity to access a quality education." That sounds great as an abstract goal. We all want a quality education for our children! The problem is that, when written into the state's fundamental law, this creates a positive obligation for state government to guarantee that each child's education is a "quality" one—as decided by politicians and bureaucrats. This threatens the authority of parents to decide what constitutes for their own children a quality education.
In short, Amendment 80 practically begs state government to more harshly regulate charter schools, private schools, and homeschoolers in the name of the government's notion of a "quality education." Remember that the measure will be interpreted and implemented, not by parents, but by politicians, bureaucrats, and judges.
Consider also that the reference to "all children" seems to demand that state government fund universal preschool starting from birth. After all, some preschool children get a high-quality education, so Amendment 80 demands that "all children" have such an opportunity. Obviously that is not the intent of the authors of the proposal, but that is the text's literal meaning.
True, Amendment 80 also declares "that parents have the right to direct the education of their children." But this line must be read in the context of what precedes it. The most likely reading is that, under Amendment 80, the rights of the parents end where the government-defined "quality education" begins.
Finally, Amendment 80 declares that "each K-12 child has the right to school choice," including "neighborhood, charter, private, and home schools." Again, this "right" must be read in context of the demand that government ensure a "quality education," which leaves ample room for severe regulations.
Does Amendment 80 require state government to fund vouchers for private schools, including religious ones? No one knows. Amendment 80 itself does not say. But a plausible reading says yes. If "each child" has a "right to school choice," and that includes private schools, then is that "right" not violated when government fails to fund private schools via vouchers? Amendment 80 leaves it for the courts to decide. That is a bad way to make public policy.
We might disagree on the broader matter of vouchers. Carolyn's organization long has been against them, on grounds that with tax dollars come government restrictions. What the government funds, the government controls. Ari is at least open to discussing the idea, although he shares the concern about vouchers possibly leading to more government controls. But we agree that punting the matter to the courts is a terrible strategy.
We believe that parents have the right to make their families' educational choices and to decide what constitutes a quality education for their children. Parents know their own children better than anyone else does. We oppose Amendment 80 precisely because it threatens parents' ability to make their own educational choices.
Carolyn Martin, director of government relations for Christian Home Educators of Colorado, with her husband homeschooled her three children. Ari Armstrong, author of a book about atheism, with his wife homeschools his nine-year-old.