Today, First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter to Congress expressing our serious concern regarding the provision in the Ways and Means reconciliation text that would create a federal private school voucher program.
Excerpt from the letter:
This proposal doesn’t establish accountability measures to prevent waste and fraud with government funds. Private school voucher programs have previously funded extravagant expenses, such as ski passes, golf equipment, and lessons on how to drive a luxury car. It’s important that public funds remain in public schools, that students are not discriminated against in the schools they attend, and that private schools aren’t favored over other charities in our tax code. Evidence overwhelmingly supports the claim that private school vouchers are a failed policy. Instead of focusing on private school vouchers that benefit only small numbers of students, lawmakers must consider solutions that advance opportunity for the 90% of U.S. students who attend public schools. These solutions include supporting the equitable full funding of public schools, providing higher teacher pay, and guaranteeing free breakfast and lunch for all students. Instead of giving tax breaks to the rich, let’s invest in our children and improve our public schools.