Dear Friend,
American Atheists is proud to endorse the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act (S4297), and we need YOU to contact your Senators TODAY and urge them to as well.
This critical legislation, led by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), will protect public education for all by repealing the national school voucher program created by last year’s Big Ugly Bill, HR, which passed the Senate by a single vote.
Beginning this December, state governors can opt into that program, which is set to take effect January 1, 2027, and expected to cost more than $136 billion in foregone revenue over the next ten years.
Most of those public dollars will be funneled to religious schools.
That’s unacceptable.
Tax dollars should not support religious instruction, weaken public education, or undermine the separation of religion and government. If you agree, act now!
Why is it SO important that you take action on this?
>> Vouchers subsidize religious discrimination. Unlike public schools, private schools can — and do — discriminate against students and their families based on religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and more. “School choice” really means it’s the school’s choice.
>> Public dollars without public oversight. Voucher programs divert billions of public dollars with minimal to no accountability, leading to tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse. And for what? Data show vouchers fail to improve academic outcomes and can actually lead to declines in student achievement.
>> Vouchers defund public education. School privatization schemes like vouchers siphon funding and resources from the public schools that serve 90% of students in the U.S.
>> They exclude the most vulnerable. By design, vouchers aren’t viable options for most families, including rural families and students with disabilities. In practice, most vouchers go to families who were already sending their kids to private schools, which aren’t legally required to uphold students’ civil rights.
>> A boon for billionaires. Vouchers are highly unpopular with U.S. voters, who have resoundingly rejected them every time and in every state they’ve had the opportunity to. But they enjoy tremendous support from a handful of well-connected and deep-pocketed families whose goal is to dismantle secular public education, “advance God’s kingdom,” and make a ton of money.
Public dollars belong in public schools — period. Contact your Senators today, and urge them to support the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act.
And once you’ve contacted your Senators, please support American Atheists’ work defending civil rights and public education for all by making a tax-deductible gift today.
In solidarity,
Sam McGuire
Director of Grassroots Organizing & Advocacy
PS: We’re also working at the state level to protect public education, including the rights of atheists and nonreligious students, with our Secular Student Bill of Rights. We urgently need your help to keep up the fight in Washington, DC, and in state capitals all across the country!
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507.
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