1. MEDIA RELEASE
Liza Holland
Liza@LizaHolland.com 859-533-3038
Parents and local education groups rally to call for more K-12 funding in 2014-16 state budget
Lexington, KY January 6, 2014 – A coalition of Fayette County parents, community members and local
education organizations are collaborating to build community support for Gov. Steve Beshear and the
General Assembly to increase school funding as they craft the 2014-16 state budget. Funding has hit a
crisis point and our kids can’t wait. Action is planned, including a rally at Wellington Elementary on
rd
January 23 at 7:00 pm.
th
Representatives of the 16 District PTA, SBDM Parents, Fayette County Education Association, Fayette
County Public Schools, Prichard Committee members and more have agreed to work throughout the
2014 legislative session to educate community members on the effects of state funding cuts of the past
five years, and to ask them to urge leaders in Frankfort to put new revenues into the classroom. Our tax
dollars need to be prioritized to the best economic investment we can make – education.
Just when the legislature has set forth visionary standards of global excellence in Senate Bill 1, the
budget constraints are making successful implementation and progress almost impossible. “A student has
just one chance to get a quality education,” said James Wagers, SBDM Parent at Beaumont Middle
School. “Simply put, our kids can’t wait.”
There are several ways to ensure your voice is heard. Fayette County KEAT is encouraging all citizens to
find out who their legislators are (a good site is www.votesmart.org) and call them to tell them how
important education is in the state budget. Everyone is invited to an “Our Kids Can’t Wait” rally, which will
rd
be held on January 23 at 7:00 pm at Wellington Elementary, 3280 Keithshire Way. Plan to attend and
bring your friends! A Children’s Advocacy Day Rally at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort is planned for
th
January 16 at 10:00 am.
Kentucky is also losing ground compared to other states as we move out of the recession. According to
the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, most states have increased funding for the current school
year. Kentucky is one of the few states that decreased state support for 2013-14, putting us in a weaker
position to compete for future jobs and growth. Kentucky cut 1.5% versus Oregon, who chose to invest in
education by budgeting a 10% increase.
Among the state-funded programs that have seen reductions (and no funding restoration) in recent years
are: Per pupil spending (state SEEK), Teacher training, Technology, Textbooks, Preschool programs,
Afterschool aid to struggling students
“These cuts have happened even as the federal No Child Left Behind and state Senate Bill 1 education
reform laws have pushed our students and educators into the most massive changes in teaching and
th
learning since the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990,” said Liza Holland, Past President of the 16
District PTA “Elementary and secondary education in our state is progressing, but that progress carries a
cost in dollars and cents.”
Coalition members plan to seek opportunities to address local civic groups, speak at public meetings and
generally urge other local citizens to communicate their support for more school funding to as the budget
writing work of the 2014 session develops.
Any community group wishing to schedule a presentation on school funding is encouraged to contact Liza
Holland Liza@LizaHolland.com or 859-533-3038
The Fayette County caucus of the Kentucky Education Action Team is an action advocacy group whose
mission is to develop united messages that will persuade the Kentucky General Assembly, parents and
the public to provide and sustain sufficient resources that will advance and support learning for all P-12
public school students to reach their potential for career and college readiness.