NCPE Asks House Committee to Reject Vouchers in ESEA Reauthorization
Vouchers are at odds with the entire purpose of ESEA.
Last Thursday, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on two of their Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization bills, which include a number of troubling sections that would allow for voucher funding if passed. The National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) sent a letter to all members of the Committee asking them to reject any provisions in the package of ESEA bills that would permit federally funded private school vouchers in the reauthorization bills.
In particular, the Local Academic Flexible Grant, a part of the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teacher Act (H.R. 3990), could establish funding for private and religious school vouchers. The original bill summary states that “private or public entities could utilize these funds to support programs that will help increase student achievement, including scholarship and tutoring programs.” In the context of public education legislation, “scholarship” is almost always a code word for private school vouchers.
As the letter points out, vouchers are at odds with the entire purpose of ESEA. As shown by study after study, vouchers simply do not improve student education outcomes. Additionally, they often have numerous accountability problems, as voucher schools are not required to adhere to the same standards and requirements as public schools. Furthermore, vouchers deprive students of rights and privileges they would receive in public schools, including the protections of Title IX, IDEA, and ESEA itself. Finally, vouchers directly grant public taxpayer money primarily to religious schools. These schools are not bound by non-discriminatory acceptance policies, and at a time when Congress is aiming to reduce spending, it is irresponsible public policy to funnel money away from already struggling public schools.
AU is the chair of NCPE and was joined by 55 other organizations signing the letter.