A Huge Win For Education Freedom in Kentucky

By Simon Laird, CPAC Policy Analyst

In March, Kentucky lawmakers voted to opt in to President Trump’s nationwide scholarship plan - a huge win for school choice in the Bluegrass state. The scholarship plan was created at the Federal level via the One Big Beautiful Bill in 2025. Under the plan, anyone in America can donate up to $1,700 to a Scholarship Granting Organization and receive a $1,700 tax credit the next time they file their taxes. The Scholarship Granting Organization, in turn, gives scholarships to K-12 students. In order to be eligible, a student’s state must opt in to the program.

Opting in is a common-sense move. If a state does not opt in, the scholarship dollars will simply go to other states. Zero state budget dollars are used for these scholarships. That’s why 28 states have opted into the scholarship program so far. Most state governors who have opted in have been Republicans, but Democratic governor Jared Polis of Colorado also opted in, calling the program “a real boom of investment in kids.” Students will begin receiving funds in 2027. 

Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky intended to exclude Kentucky from the scholarship program, blocking Kentucky kids from access to millions of dollars of scholarship money. Andy Beshear came from a wealthy family and attended private schools for part of his education. He also sent his kids to private schools for part of their education, but he has fought to make it more difficult for other people to attend private schools. Earlier in March, the Kentucky legislature intervened and passed a law that will ensure that Kentucky students are able to get scholarships through the Federal program, despite Andy Beshear’s opposition.

Since the new scholarship program does not use any state education dollars, the program enjoyed broad support among Kentucky legislators, even those who had previously been reluctant to endorse school choice measures. According to the Federal statute, a state’s decision to opt in is made either by the governor or by another official as specified by state law. Kentucky legislators passed a law to take the decision out of Andy Beshear’s hands and put it in the hands of the Secretary of State, who is expected to opt in, freeing up millions of dollars of much-needed funding for students and schools in Kentucky. Governor Beshear attempted to veto the law, but it was overridden.