Amendment 80: School Choice Goes Constitutional

Amendment 80—because what we really needed was another education debate, right? This one’s all about placing the concept of “school choice” into the Colorado Constitution, giving parents and students more freedom over K-12 education options. But don’t let the name fool you—there’s plenty of controversy baked into this one. Let’s break it down.

What Is Amendment 80?

Amendment 80 proposes a constitutional right to school choice for K-12 students and their parents. It defines school choice broadly, including public, charter, private, and home schools, along with any future education innovations the state might cook up. Supporters say this will protect the right to choose schooling options without interference from future lawmakers. It effectively locks in the right for parents to direct their children’s education with more flexibility​ (Colorado Times Recorder) ​(Colorado General Assembly).

If you love reading amendment text (and who doesn’t?), here it is

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution establishing the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, and, in connection therewith, declaring that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, and private schools; home schooling; open enrollment options; and future innovations in education?

What’s Amendment 80 Supposed to Do?

Right now, Colorado law already allows for various school choices within the public system and permits private and home schooling. But Amendment 80 aims to take it a step further by giving these rights constitutional protection. Advocates say this would prevent any future legislature from restricting or overturning school choice options without a vote from the people. They argue that this amendment is essential for parents who want control over their children’s education without interference from government policies​ (Colorado General Assembly)​ (Colorado Fiscal Institute).

The Pros

1. Protects Parental Rights: Supporters claim Amendment 80 is all about empowering parents, ensuring they have the freedom to choose the best educational environment for their children without government meddling. Groups like Advance Colorado argue that placing school choice in the constitution guarantees it won’t be at the mercy of changing political winds​(Colorado Public Radio).
2. Expands Education Options: By making school choice a constitutional right, proponents believe the amendment would solidify and potentially expand options for K-12 students, ensuring parents can choose everything from neighborhood public schools to private or home schooling with equal legitimacy​ (Colorado Times Recorder).
3. Future-Proofing School Choice: The amendment’s supporters stress that locking this right into the constitution ensures that future legislators can’t easily alter or restrict current options, giving parents peace of mind regardless of political shifts ​(Colorado General Assembly).

The Cons

1. Backdoor to Vouchers?: Critics argue this amendment is a Trojan horse for introducing voucher programs in Colorado. By constitutionalizing school choice, opponents fear it opens the door to using taxpayer dollars for private schools, something voters have repeatedly rejected in past ballot initiatives​(Colorado Fiscal Institute) ​(Colorado Public Radio).
2. Impact on Public Schools: Teachers’ unions and education advocates warn that diverting funds to private schools would pull resources away from already underfunded public schools, particularly in rural areas that depend on state funding to operate. They believe this could lead to significant budget cuts and worsen inequalities across the state​ (Colorado Public Radio) ​(Colorado General Assembly).
3. Legal Uncertainty: Opponents also point out that Amendment 80 could lead to a flood of legal challenges, as the courts would need to interpret how public funds and private education interact under this new constitutional framework. This could mean expensive lawsuits and uncertainty for school districts across Colorado ​(Colorado Fiscal Institute)​ (Colorado General Assembly).

What the Blue Book Says

A “YES” vote on Amendment 80 creates a constitutionally protected right to school choice for K-12 children and their parents, and specifies that school choice includes public, private, homeschool, and any future innovations in education.

A “NO” vote on Amendment 80 maintains the current system of school choice in state law.

The Bottom Line

Amendment 80 is either a victory for parental rights and educational freedom or a calculated move to pave the way for diverting public funds to private institutions—depending on who you ask. If you think parents should have absolute control over where and how their children are educated, this might be an easy “yes” vote. But if you’re concerned about the impact on public school funding or think this opens the door to taxpayer-funded private education, you might want to vote “no.”

We’ve been objective, now here’s what we think

We’re voting yes. A slam dunk yes. This amendment ensures parents are empowered to direct the education of their children. It would also define school choice to include public neighborhood and charter schools, private schools, home schools, open enrollment options, and “future innovations in education.” Parents deserve the right to proactively make choices in their child’s education. That seems a no-brainer, but when powerful education unions are involved, the waters can get muddied. See clearly – vote yes.