This article highlights the controversy surrounding a misleading text message campaign related to Colorado’s Amendment 80, which aims to enshrine school choice in the state’s constitution.
Kevin Vick, president of the Colorado Education Association, has denounced the campaign for falsely implying his support. Vick, along with many teachers, opposes the amendment, which they argue would divert funds from public schools to private institutions.
The text message features an audio clip of Vick, taken out of context, alongside a written message promoting the amendment.
Critics claim the initiative’s real purpose is to funnel public education funds to private schools, despite decades of school choice already existing in Colorado.
A complaint has been filed with the Secretary of State’s office by Bri Buentello, challenging the lack of transparency and disclosure behind the text messages. The complaint targets Colorado Dawn IEC, an independent expenditure committee supporting Amendment 80, which has previously been fined for improper disclosures.
Despite this, Amendment 80’s proponents claim it will protect school choice from future legislative changes. Colorado Dawn IEC has spent substantial amounts promoting the initiative, raising concerns about the influence of outside groups on Colorado’s education policies.