DENVER (KDVR) — Voters in Colorado are deciding on Amendment 80. Enshrining school choice in the Colorado Constitution if it passes.

Amendment 80 would create a constitutional right of school choice for K-12 children and the right for parents to direct their children’s education.

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It would also change the definition of school choice to include traditional neighborhood public schools, charter schools, private schools, home schools, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education.

This change will not have an immediate impact on the operation of schools in Colorado because the state already has many school choice laws on its books. But the Legislative Staff Council noted that it could influence how lawmakers craft policies on school choice in the future or lead to changes in state laws and local school district policy through court interpretations.

Proponents of the amendment argue that the 80th Amendment protects existing school choice rights from any future legislative efforts by embedding them in the constitution.

But opponents argue the measure could conflict with existing law that prohibits the use of public funding for private education and would also require court interpretation. They also argue that this could lead to funds being diverted from public schools to private schools and home schools.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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