On Sept. 11, the Kentucky Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether the state's charter school law is constitutional. A Franklin Circuit Court judge previously struck it down, ruling that a school using a lottery is not a "common school" under the Kentucky Constitution.
This case has implications far beyond charter schools, which don't yet exist in Kentucky. The ruling could threaten Louisville's established magnet and traditional programs, such as Manual, YPAS, Brown and Male. These popular schools have used lotteries for decades to manage applications that exceed available seats. While parents may dislike the odds, they have accepted the process as fair.
If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court's reasoning, it wouldn't automatically end magnets but it would open the door for new challenges that could jeopardize programs thousands of families rely on, and jeopardizing them would mean a significant loss. This isn't about politics. It's about common sense. Families want more educational choices, not fewer.
Public charter schools could be one answer, but magnets and traditional programs already are. Louisville Justice Angela Bisig and her colleagues must recognize this reality. The court's decision will determine whether Kentucky advances toward more options or risks dismantling the successful programs thousands of families depend on.
I'm Bill Lamb, and that’s my Point of View.
