Legislative Resources

Advocates can use the following resources to help inform decision-makers at the local, state, and federal levels about the threat that school voucher programs pose to communities and students.

Tell Your Legislator to Say “No” to School Vouchers

You can stop school vouchers. Use this draft language and guidance to urge your legislator to oppose any program that provides public funds to private schools.

Questions to Ask Your State Legislator About School Vouchers

This resource includes questions that advocates can ask legislators about any proposed school voucher program and explains how each of these questions can help decision-makers think critically about how a school voucher program would affect their constituents.

Sample Testimony on the Harms of School Voucher Programs

When considering school vouchers, legislatures may hold hearings and invite members of the public or advocacy organizations to testify or submit comments. This template can be used to submit oral or written testimony to your legislature to help inform them about the harms of school voucher programs.

Questions Every Legislator Should Ask About School Vouchers

This list of questions prompts legislators to think deeply about the implications of any proposed school voucher program. Advocates can share this resource with legislators to help guide their discussions with colleagues or during legislative committee meetings.

Breaking Down School Vouchers

The following resources provide additional information on the impact of school voucher programs, with a particular focus on Black, Brown, low-income, and rural communities. These resources can be shared during town-hall meetings or in other public forums to help inform community members about the threat of school vouchers.

Who Really Benefits From School Vouchers

School vouchers do not expand educational choices for all. This resource shows how these programs overwhelmingly benefit wealthy families and foster discrimination against students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and others from underserved communities.

What Everyone Should Know About Private Schools That Accept Vouchers

A school voucher does not automatically grant students access to any private school. This resource notes that many private schools that accept vouchers offer lower-quality educational experiences that do not set students up for success.

How School Vouchers Hurt Rural Communities

Although their tax dollars pay for vouchers, families in rural areas are often unable to utilize voucher programs. This resource explains how school vouchers drain funds from rural public schools while failing to expand educational options for students.

The Financial Impact of School Vouchers: Lessons From Arizona

School voucher programs often come with a hefty price tag, which has major implications for state budgets. This case study examines how Arizona’s school voucher program negatively impacted the state’s budget — costing Arizona hundreds of millions and contributing to a billion-dollar deficit that has necessitated cuts to vital public services.

Vouchers Drain Funds From Public Schools

Share this infographic about how school vouchers harm public schools with members of your community or on social media.