Public education funding is under attack!
A federal voucher program, known as the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), was passed in Congress's "One Big Beautiful Bill," and governors around the country are already taking action on it. With an estimated potential total cost of over $50 billion, your state's public education system could be in immediate danger if your governor opts into this program. We need your help to fight to keep secular, high-quality public education safe today!
By opting into the program, third-party organizations (known as Scholarship Granting Organizations, or SGOs) would be allowed to grant scholarships to students using federally reimbursed donor funds. The vast majority of permissible funding purposes — tuition, fees, books, room and board and uniforms — only apply to students of private, often religious, institutions. Even worse comes the academic cost. Studies of voucher programs in three different states found that students attending private schools using vouchers performed worse academically than their public school counterparts. Additionally, 66 percent of private schools are religiously affiliated, and 77 percent of students enrolled in private schools attend one with a religious bent. In other words, by opting into the FSTC program, taxpayer dollars will be used to fund religious indoctrination while leaving the public school system — which educates 91 percent of children in America — with far less support.
Contrary to the claims of the program's backers, FSTC participation comes with immense costs, and public students deserve better than to be an afterthought to private religious schools. Please take this opportunity to contact your governor and tell them not to jeopardize public education! We have included suggested language that we encourage you to customize by clicking on the pencil icon. After sending an email, you will be directed to a phone prompt to call your governor as well. Even leaving a message shows your dedication to the cause, so please take the extra step if you can! For best results, please be succinct and polite.
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