Statement from NEA President Princess Moss on the Trump administration's federal voucher rules

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury took another step to implement the Trump administration’s new federal private school voucher, effectively moving toward robbing students of access to great public schools across the United States. As expected, the guidance ensures the program will contain all the most damaging features of existing state-funded voucher programs, while limiting states' ability to protect students or ensure meaningful benefits for public schools. 

The National Education Association released the following statement from President Princess Moss:

“With back-to-school in the rearview mirror, more Americans are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of school supplies, packed lunches, and gas continues to outpace salaries and paychecks. Instead of helping families make ends meet, the Trump administration is once again putting its thumb on the scale for private school vouchers at the expense of the public schools that serve 90% of America's students. At a time when educators, students, and families are calling for more resources to strengthen neighborhood public schools, this administration is advancing a plan to divert taxpayer dollars to subsidize private education for a select few.

“We will closely review the Treasury Department's new voucher regulations and continue fighting to ensure public funds remain invested in public schools where every student — regardless of their race, ZIP code, disability, family income, or immigration status — can learn, grow, and thrive. America's students deserve policies that expand opportunity, not vouchers that leave most children behind.”

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest labor union, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.