April 2017 Church & State - April 2016

Trump Budget Calls For Multi-Million Dollar Voucher Plan

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As this issue of Church & State was going to press, President Donald J. Trump released a federal budget that includes a $250 million school voucher plan.

The National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE), a collection of organizations that support public education and that is co-chaired by Americans United, strongly opposed the proposal.

“It is incumbent upon our President to ensure that all students have access to quality public schools,” read a statement issued by NCPE. “Vouchers, however, divert desperately needed resources away from the public school system to fund the education of a few voucher students in private schools, including religious schools.”

Added NCPE, “Voucher programs are an ineffective and damaging education policy: they do not improve – and can even lead to declines in – student achievement. And, vouchers underserve many students, including low-income students who often cannot afford private schools even with a voucher, students in rural areas who may have no other educational options nearby and students with disabilities who often cannot find private schools to serve their needs.”

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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