Kentucky Students File Lawsuit Against State Over Education Quality Issues

Frankfort: So, here’s the scoop. More than 30 years after a big lawsuit changed Kentucky’s public schools, a new group of students is stepping up. They’re saying the state isn’t doing its job when it comes to providing a decent education for everyone.

This lawsuit was filed on January 14 by nine students from the Kentucky Student Voice Team. They’re taking a stand, inspired by a 1989 case that pointed out how the education system was failing kids. Back then, the Kentucky Supreme Court agreed that the system was unfair and not good enough, which led to some major changes in 1990.

But now, despite those changes, things aren’t looking great. The students say funding cuts, low teacher pay, and lack of resources are putting their education at risk. Khoa Ta, a junior from Daviess County High School, said it best: “The Kentucky Constitution guarantees every student the right to a quality public education.” But he feels that promise has been broken for too many kids.

Brigitte Blom Ramsey, who leads an education advocacy group, called the 1990 reforms a success story. But a recent investigation showed that many of the key parts of that reform are either underfunded or not working as they should.

The new lawsuit highlights some serious issues, like falling literacy rates and a lack of mental health support for students. For instance, only 41% of eighth graders are reading at grade level, and Kentucky is one of the few states without a civics course requirement. Plus, many high schoolers are struggling with mental health, and some schools don’t even have counselors.

Luisa Sanchez, another student involved in the lawsuit, pointed out that they’re not blaming individual schools or teachers. Instead, they’re looking at the bigger picture and how state decisions are affecting education.

The students announced their lawsuit outside a courthouse in Frankfort, and they’ve got plans to hold public hearings to gather more input on how to improve schools in Kentucky. Peter Jefferson, a senior, said this is just the start. They want to make sure every student gets the education they deserve, and they know it’ll take teamwork from everyone in the state to make that happen.