LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky Republicans have already switched gears after the state's Supreme Court ruled that a bill to fund charter schools is unconstitutional.

The GOP is now pushing another school funding bill that would allow the state to opt into a federal school choice program. However, some Democrats have major concerns with the new bill. 

"The bill filed by Kentucky Republicans is a real problem," said Lindsey Burke, Kentucky House Democratic Caucus Chair.

Republican Rep. Kimberly Mosher sees an opportunity to make sure Kentucky students don't miss out. Moser filed House Bill 1 Thursday, which would give Kentucky families access to the Education Freedom Tax Credit program.

Representative T.J. Roberts and Republican House Speaker David Osborne are also sponsoring the bill.

Language for the program was embedded into Congressional House Resolution One, commonly known as President Donald's Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill."

The bill gives a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, allowing individuals to donate up to $1,700 to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs).

SGOs are nonprofit organizations that traditionally help families pay for K-12 private school education tuition, but the federally funded scholarships can be used to fund expenses for private or home-schooled K-12 students.

Under the program, the scholarships can also go towards educational expenses such as fees, special needs services, and other authorized academic expenses.

States have to opt in to the program first.

In a press release, the Republican House Speaker Office's Communication Specialist Jeffrey Bates wrote, "According to Moser and Roberts, House Bill 1 reflects a clear commitment to pursuing every available avenue to expand opportunity for Kentucky students and to restore to parents the ability to direct their children’s education in a way that best meets their needs."

Burke stands firmly against the bill. 

"My concern about House Bill 1 is that it seems to really not reflect what Kentuckians keep saying," said Burke. "They want strong public schools and when we try to do anything other than support our public schools, we’re not reflecting their values."

In Kentucky, efforts to fund charter schools with public dollars have failed, but Democratic House Rep. Tina Bojanowski said these are federal dollars that the state has no jurisdiction over. 

"I don’t see charter schools any time soon," said Bojanowski. "I don’t see a state scholarship tax credits any time soon, but the federal one is one that I'm just not sure that we have jurisdiction over."

Bojanowski plans to vote against House Bill 1, but she's working ahead just in case it passes.

"I'm preparing an amendment that says that if you get this money from a scholarship-granting organization, it can't be to a school system that discriminates in any way," said Bojanowski. 

Indiana has already opted in to the program. 

In a statement, Moser said, "Kentucky’s students deserve the same access to these educational opportunities as students in other states."

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