Defeating Vouchers
Advocacy
Public Money. Public Schools.
Private school vouchers siphon taxpayer dollars away from public schools and other essential services, diverting those funds to private and home schools. Due to the historic unpopularity of the term "vouchers," proponents have rebranded them as "Education Savings Accounts," "Opportunity Scholarships," or other misleading names. By whatever name, these schemes often lead to budget crises, fraud, abuse, and poor outcomes. And despite claiming to offer families "school choice," it is the schools that choose which students to accept.
Welfare for the Wealthy
Despite being sold as a way for poor families to escape so-called failing schools, in truth, these schemes have amounted to welfare for the wealthy. In state after state, the vast majority of vouchers have subsidized those already attending private schools. In Nevada, the majority of applicants to the Education Savings Account voucher program were from the wealthiest zip codes and highest performing public schools. [link to our research] When lower income families do attempt to utilize vouchers, they often experience road blocks: Most quality private schools are still prohibitively expensive even with a voucher (some even raise tuition in response to vouchers). Lower tuition cost can mean low-quality private schools, often referred to as "pop-up" or "strip mall" schools. Other expenses such as uniforms, books, technology fees, and other requirements can also price out these families. Transportation and no free meals also limits access. In the end, these families typically stay in or quickly return to their public school. The talking point that vouchers support low-income communities is a myth.
Discrimination
Public schools are required to take students as they come and serve every student. Even when taking public tax dollars via vouchers, private schools can discriminate against students for almost any reason. Students can be rejected for: *Religious beliefs (or lack thereof) *Academic or behavioral needs Disabilities *Sexual orientation or gender identity *Almost any other reason When it comes to vouchers, it's not school choice, it's the school's choice. Did you know?: Vouchers were built on discrimination. The concept was born in the 1950s and 60s by voucher proponents whose goal was to avoid having their kids integrate with students of color after "separate but equal" facilities were deemed unconstitutional.
