Congress is now pushing the private choice agenda

Below is an important email from Diane Ravitch, president of the Network for Public Education Action, on the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act. Please take action and share with your networks.

- AFTeam


Congress is now pushing the private “choice” agenda by extending the SOAR Reauthorization Act. Reauthorization would fund and expand, with your federal tax dollars, the District of Columbia’s private school voucher program.

It is time to shut this voucher program down. Send your email to your congressperson now by clicking here.

In 2012, the Washington Post investigated the program and found that hundreds of students used vouchers in unaccredited schools, or schools with questionable settings such as "a family-run K-12 school operating out of a storefront, a Nation of Islam school based in a converted Deanwood residence, and a school built around the philosophy of a Bulgarian psychotherapist."

The program operates with little transparency or accountability. Congress refuses to add protections against discrimination based on disability and sexual orientation. And as we know from the proposed budget, every dollar the federal government spends on private school vouchers is less money available to invest in strengthening our public schools.

This bill is moving fast, and it is probable that a voice vote will take place this week.

Thank you.

Diane Ravitch
President, Network for Public Education Action