Colorado Voters to Decide Whether School Choice Should Be Enshrined in Constitution

Colorado voters heading to the polls on Election Day will vote on an amendment that would add a "right to school choice" for K-12 students to the state's constitution.

The measure states that parents have the right to direct the education of their children and that every child, from kindergarten through high school, has the freedom to choose their school.

An ACLU of Colorado spokesperson said in an email to The Epoch Times that the group "is strongly opposed to Amendment 80," citing, among other concerns, possible "devastating and unintended consequences" for students, including the possible creation of a statewide voucher program that would pull funding from public schools.

The ACLU's spokesperson said, "We fear that this language could be used by some to invite violations of civil rights, including book bans, censorship of classroom discussions about race and gender, and litigation challenging state non-discrimination laws."

Nonprofit the Advance Colorado Institute supports the measure.

CHEC said it fully supports school choice but was concerned about the term "quality education" used in the amendment. "The ballot measure opens the door for the government to define what a 'quality education' is."

For the measure to secure approval on Nov. 5, it requires the backing of 55 percent of voters.