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HIGHLIGHTS


BIG VICTORY: PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS DEFEATED AGAIN!


In a major victory for public education, on May 25, the House defeated an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill that would have provided vouchers for students with disabilities in military families served by Department of Defense schools or schools receiving Impact Aid funds.  The victory came two weeks after the same proposal was resoundingly defeated in committee. The NEA-opposed proposal was completely unnecessary, as current law under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act already provides for complete services for students with special needs.  This includes covering the cost of private school if necessary to ensure full services.  And, on a larger scale, the proposal reflected bad public policy.  As Congress is proposing drastic reductions in federal spending, there was no reason to divert scarce resources to vouchers. 

Defeat of the voucher proposal was a huge victory given the current congressional climate and a testament to the power of strong advocacy and effective partnerships, as the disability community joined with NEA and our education allies to fight the voucher plan. 

See how your Representative voted.

Take Action TODAY: Thank members who voted against the voucher proposal. 

 



Highlights:


  • anc_dyn_links
    "What have you got against private school vouchers?" your brother-in-law demands over Sunday dinner. Ah, if he only knew the facts.

NEA opposes school vouchers because they divert essential resources from public schools to private and religious schools, while offering no real "choice" for the overwhelming majority of students.

Teachers, parents, and the general public have long opposed private school tuition vouchers — especially when funds for vouchers compete with funds for overall improvements in America's public schools. NEA and its affiliates have been leaders in the fight to improve public schools— and oppose alternatives that divert attention, energy, and resources from efforts to reduce class size, enhance teacher quality, and provide every student with books, computers, and safe and orderly schools.

Read more of NEA's case against vouchers.


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RELATED ITEMS

Evaluations of Existing Voucher Programs

School Vouchers: The Emerging Track Record
NEA produced this overview of independent evaluations of existing voucher programs. (2002)