Kentucky Students Take a Stand: Lawsuit Filed Over Inadequate Education Standards

On January 14, students and their families, backed by the Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT), took a bold step. They filed a lawsuit against Kentucky, claiming the state has not done its job to provide every student with a fair and quality education.

Why is this lawsuit necessary? The education situation in Kentucky is worrying. For instance, only 41% of 8th graders are at or above the proficiency level in reading. Plus, Kentucky is one of just 11 states that doesn’t require a Civics course, leaving many students with little understanding of their government and civic responsibilities. The arts are also lacking, with 18.5% of schools offering no arts classes at all. Adding to these concerns, many high school students in Kentucky are facing serious mental health challenges, with nearly 20% reporting thoughts of suicide.

This lawsuit echoes a significant case from 1989, “Rose v. Council for Better Education.” Back then, the Kentucky Supreme Court recognized that the education system was not meeting the needs of students. This ruling led to the Kentucky Education Reform Act, which aimed to improve various educational aspects, such as core subjects, teaching self-sufficiency, and enhancing communication skills. It also introduced the SEEK program to provide funding to local schools, although many argue this program hasn’t delivered the necessary financial support.

Khoa Ta, a junior from Daviess County High School and a KSVT policy coordinator, shared how many students feel disappointed with their education. “The Kentucky Constitution says every student has a right to a quality public education. That promise from the Rose case has not been fulfilled for so many,” he noted.

Peter Jefferson, a senior at Henry Clay High School and another plaintiff in the lawsuit, emphasized that this isn’t about blaming teachers. “Our educators are striving hard in underfunded schools. But we need our leaders to meet educational standards,” he said. Jefferson added, “We want to involve our community in discussions about how to improve our education system.”

Students involved in the suit have made it clear: they are not targeting individual teachers or schools. One student pointed out, “We’re here because we care about Kentucky and our future. We won’t settle for the current state of education.”

The lawsuit names several officials, including Senate President Robert Stivers, House Speaker David Osborne, the Kentucky Board of Education, and Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher. So far, these officials have been silent about the lawsuit.

What’s next? KSVT and the students understand they are in for a long journey. They plan to hold public hearings to gather feedback and ideas on education from all corners of Kentucky.

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