Advocates Reinvigorate the Fight for Adequate School Funding in Kentucky

Due to revenue shortfalls, Kentucky, like many states across the nation, is facing impending budget cuts and major deficits. Among the many programs and services in danger, members of the education community fear that state funding for educational services and facilities could be reduced. In light of possible budget cuts, advocates, such as the Partners for Kentucky's Future, are reorganizing and reinvigorating the quest for adequate school funding to ensure a bright future for Kentucky.

The Partners for Kentucky's Future, a statewide coalition of more than 50 diverse groups and organizations, has stepped to the fore in a public campaign to secure educational funding, and has issued "Promise, Progress and Pride: Investing in Kentucky Education." Organizers are working with legislators, university presidents, advocacy organizations, business leaders, and parents on a grassroots level to interact with local communities and discuss the future of Kentucky's schools. The Partners are also collaborating with experts to conduct research on such topics as possible sources of revenue and successful actions other states have taken to address the current fiscal crisis.

The coalition's efforts to highlight the fiscal dangers faced by Kentucky schools have made education a key issue in the state's gubernatorial election, to be decided on November 4. Uniting with other organizations, the Partners sponsored a gubernatorial debate on October 22, in which the two main candidates answered questions about education, among other issues. The group also submitted a questionnaire to candidates, asking the frontrunners for the governor's seat to propose their ideas for preserving and improving the funding and programmatic quality of education in Kentucky's schools. The Lexington Herald-Leader recently printed the candidates' responses to the 18 questions submitted by the Partners.

While the Partners for Kentucky's Future have been successful in highlighting the importance of education during this year's gubernatorial race, members continue to look and plan ahead for a continued effort to increase education funding. Recent costing-out studies have indicated that an additional $750 million to $892 million is needed to provide students with the resources necessary to meet state learning standards. The Partners hope to work with legislators during their next session in 2004 to devise a budget which does not squander the dramatic progress Kentucky's schools have made and also does not sacrifice the future of its students.

Prepared October 31, 2003