EdTrust’s toolkit provides advocates with the information and tools to push back against voucher programs and ensure that traditionally underserved students have access to a high-quality public education.
October 30, 2024 by EdTrust 
CONTACT:
Carolyn Phenicie, cphenicie@edtrust.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON – With voters poised to decide next week on pivotal initiatives across the country, expanding school voucher programs — which provide public funds for private schools — has become a popular issue at the ballot box. Currently, 14 states have active voucher programs, and many more states are expected to follow suit, sparking concerns about the future of public education, equity, and student outcomes. In response, EdTrust, a national education equity organization, has released a comprehensive toolkit to equip advocates with the facts about vouchers and offer strategies to safeguard public education.
EdTrust’s review of research reveals that vouchers disproportionately harm Black and Latino students, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities, while diverting crucial resources away from public schools. The evidence also highlights that voucher programs do not increase academic achievement; in fact, vouchers exacerbate inequalities and foster discrimination. Unlike public schools, voucher-funded private schools often operate without any accountability for student outcomes and divide communities.
“Far too often, voucher programs target low-income school districts that are already struggling under the burden of inequitable funding,” said Augustus Mays, vice president for partnerships and engagement at EdTrust.
“Rather than investing in the tools and resources these districts and schools need to lift student achievement, public dollars are being siphoned into private institutions that evade accountability and often promote exclusion and discrimination. It’s time to draw the line: public dollars must stay in public schools. And public schools must be equitably funded to have the resources that research says serve students well,” Mays continued.
EdTrust’s toolkit provides advocates with the information and tools to push back against voucher programs and ensure that traditionally underserved students have access to a high-quality public education.
The toolkit offers actionable resources for advocates, including:
EdTrust’s materials provide clear recommendations for policymakers and advocates, emphasizing the need to strengthen public schools, increase transparency and accountability, and foster public engagement to push back against voucher expansion efforts.
For more information and to access the toolkit, visit edtrust.org/vouchers
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About EdTrust
EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the American education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where students will thrive.
