This is a victory for parents, educators and other citizens who love public schools: The Kentucky Legislature passed a two-year budget that does not include funding for charter schools. 

The charter lobbyists are still working the halls, hoping to turn it around, but the clock is running out.

Two Louisville Republicans (where charters are likeliest to open) said they would not support funding charters if public school funding was cut. Public school funding was actually increased, but higher education and other government programs were cut.

Legislators understand that there is only one pot of money, and funding charters means less money for public schools. They may have paid attention to the failure of charters in their neighbor Tennessee, which have been divisive, expensive and ineffective.