The day we file the lawsuit, we hold a press conference on the steps of the courthouse. In the biting cold, we shovel snow off the steps to prepare, and yet, I’m so excited, it hardly matters. Here it is: my chance to speak—and more importantly, be heard—about the state of education in Kentucky, an issue that matters to me deeply.
But I’m not going to lie: I’m pretty nervous too. Will my teachers feel that I think poorly of them? Will my principal believe that I find my education so inadequate that I am taking legal action? Especially with so much anti-teacher rhetoric—in the United States at large and in Kentucky specifically—I’m terrified that my words will be twisted, and my message will be perceived as one of blame and disappointment.
So, it’s important to me to mention in my speech, and in every single interaction I have with the press, that the shortcomings in Kentucky’s education system are not, and have never been, the fault of teachers.
Fortunately, they hear my message.
After the press conference, my principal sends me a postcard saying how proud of me he is, a simple gesture that means the world, and reinforces in my mind that I’m doing the right thing.
Of course, there are still some people who ask, “Isn’t that a little drastic? A lawsuit?” But we’ve seen it work before with the Rose decision in 1989. We’ve seen the establishment of seven key capacities that are the pillars of quality education, and we’ve seen Kentucky become a national leader in education.
Another question that people love to ask is “why now?” In the November 2024 election, when education is on the ballot, Kentucky citizens show up. Every county in the state votes against Amendment 2, a decision that keeps funds in the public schools. To me, this is an indication that there is energy behind protecting and improving Kentucky schools, and above all, that the fight for quality education for every student is truly becoming a nonpartisan issue.
Regardless of their personal values or political leanings, Kentucky’s people are beginning to recognize that the public education system is failing Kentucky students, and as a result, it is failing the commonwealth. I, alongside millions of Kentuckians, want to feel that I can graduate and be successful without having to leave the state. And I want students who choose to stay in Kentucky to have the capacity to contribute to our communities in tangible and meaningful ways. As it stands, we are denying too many of our students the opportunity to grow into critical thinkers, strong communicators, and perhaps most importantly, good citizens and leaders.
Now that we’ve filed our lawsuit, we’re moving on to focus on solutions. The Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT) is holding a series of public hearings all across our state with the goal of identifying what’s going right in our schools, instead of focusing on how our schools are failing. Researchers, educators, families, students, and community leaders are sharing their experiences from their time on the front lines of public education. These expert witnesses are providing recommendations on how to build a more efficient and equitable system. Through this process, we hope to highlight pockets of good to serve as examples, and find ways to scale them to benefit all of our students.
The Court’s reaffirmation of our constitutional right to a quality education, supported by unrelenting public attention and action, will create an opening for change. From there, it will be up to all of us to define what that change should look like. If you want to get involved and share your voice about what’s working in public education, we would love to hear from you.
Finally, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room. I know that lawsuits take time, often years, to reach a resolution. I also understand that I’ll have graduated by then, so I won’t directly benefit from this effort. But when it feels hopeless, I remind myself that what we are doing has the potential to change the lives of generations of students to come. All of us on the team with younger siblings or friends—and one day even children of our own—recognize the importance of this lawsuit, and the gravity of this action. We are not only advocating for ourselves, but for the future of Kentucky and for the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
Everyone involved with this lawsuit emphatically believes that Kentucky’s public schools are well worth fighting for. We hope you do, too.
