Understanding Amendment 80: School Choice for K-12
At United Way of Larimer County, we believe that every child should have access to a high-quality education and that every voter should have access to clear, accurate information about issues on the ballot. Amendment 80, which will appear on the upcoming ballot, focuses on school choice for K-12 education in Colorado. While this measure does not propose immediate changes to existing laws, it could have significant long-term implications for Colorado’s education system. Let’s take a closer look at what’s at stake.
What Does Amendment 80 Propose?
Amendment 80 would amend the Colorado Constitution to establish a parent’s right to choose their child’s school—whether it’s a public, private, charter, or home school. Colorado already allows parents to choose from many public school options through current laws, including neighborhood, charter, and online schools, along with the option to pursue private education or homeschooling.
However, this amendment would formalize this right in the state constitution, which may impact future legislation, especially regarding potential voucher programs that could redirect public funding to private schools.
What is the current law?
Under current Colorado law students can attend any public school for free, even if they do not live in the school district. Public schools include neighborhood schools, charter schools, and some online schools. Each school district has policies allowing parents to enroll students in the public school of their choice. State law also permits parents to choose non-public education options, such as private schools or home schools. Public schools receive public funding from local and state governments. Private schools and home schools do not receive any public funding.
What Would Change if Amendment 80 Passes?
- No Immediate Change: The measure does not alter current enrollment policies or state law. Parents already have the right to choose their child’s school.
- Long-Term Effects: As a constitutional amendment, this measure could have far-reaching and lasting impacts. Once enshrined in the state constitution, changes, including accountability measures for private and charter schools, would be harder to reverse or modify through legislation.
- Potential for Vouchers: While this measure does not directly create a voucher system, it opens the door for future legislation that could shift funding from public schools to private institutions.
Key Considerations
- Equity Concerns: United Way of Larimer County values equity in education, and we recognize that changes to school funding and structure can disproportionately affect low-income communities and students of color. While school choice aims to offer more options, it may lead to reduced funding for public schools that serve the majority of Colorado students and exacerbate the lack of public resources in low-income districts.
- Accountability Challenges: States with similar constitutional amendments have found it more difficult to pass accountability measures for private and charter schools, which can limit oversight and exacerbate educational inequities such as:
- Admission requirements in private schools that bar students based on performance
- Private and charter schools not providing special education programs
- The practice of counseling out students, which is an unofficial policy that involves advising students who do not meet school standards out of enrolling
Arguments For and Against
- Supporters of Amendment 80 argue that formalizing the right to school choice empowers parents to find the best educational fit for their children. It provides assurance that this right won’t be taken away by future legislative actions.
- Opponents of Amendment 80 argue that the current system already offers sufficient school choice. They warn that the measure could lead to the diversion of funds from public schools, potentially harming the quality of public education and making it harder to ensure equitable access for all students.
Why This Matters
Amending the constitution is a significant step. Amendment 80 could shape the future of Colorado’s education policy for decades to come. It’s important to consider how these changes might affect funding, equity, and educational outcomes across the state.
This blog aims to present the information clearly and neutrally, ensuring that voters have the tools they need to make an informed decision. We encourage you to research, ask questions, and consider the long-term impacts before heading to the polls this November.
This post is part of our United We Vote campaign, which provides non-partisan voter education on how to vote and critical issues impacting our community.
Further Reading:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED460175.pdf
https://nepc.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/CHOICE-08-Mickelson-FINAL-EG043008.pdf
https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/stateofcharterschoolsreport
More United We Vote Resources:
Check your voter registration, find your polling place and more.
Learn more about Thompson School District’s Ballot Measures 5A and 5B.
Learn more about Poudre School District’s Ballot Measure 4A.
