This week, Republican lawmakers are pushing a budget reconciliation bill that prioritizes providing significant benefits to the wealthiest Americans at the expense of slashing programs that support the majority of the population. Tucked away in this budget proposal is the inclusion of a national private school voucher program, funded through tax breaks for the affluent, which poses a threat to the existing public school system.
Senator Ted Cruz has referred to school vouchers as “the Civil Rights Issue of the 21st century,” arguing that they are essential for expanding educational opportunities for young individuals. However, the reality is that expanding voucher programs and undermining public education would have detrimental effects, particularly on Black, Latino, and Indigenous students.
President Donald Trump’s proposed “Big, Beautiful Bill” contains a provision buried in the tax code that grants a remarkable 100% tax deduction for contributions to third-party organizations distributing private school vouchers. This push for a nationwide private school voucher program is reminiscent of past efforts aiming to revert to a segregated and unequal educational environment predating the civil rights movement. White segregationists since the 1960s have advocated for private school vouchers to circumvent desegregation requirements and maintain a system of education rife with discrimination and disparities.
It is crucial for policymakers to eliminate the private school voucher program from the budget and instead focus on fully funding public schools, such as through initiatives like the Keep Our Pact Act. Failure to do so could lead us back towards a troubling era marked by intentional racial segregation and vast inequities in educational resources and funding.
The proposed private school voucher scheme, akin to Project 2025, risks depriving countless children of their right to quality public education. This policy disproportionately benefits affluent families who can already afford private schooling, while undermining public schools by redirecting resources away from them.
Proponents of school voucher programs argue that they offer families more choices. However, in reality, these vouchers typically channel funds to private schools that have the discretion to select their student body, leading to potential exclusions and expulsions based on various factors. Public schools, on the other hand, are required by law to provide education to all students without discrimination based on gender, race, disability, religion, English proficiency, or LGBTQ identity.
Private schools often have the luxury of selecting a limited number of students based on criteria such as academic performance, behavior, and financial capacity, creating barriers for many families. Research indicates that the financial gap between the voucher amount and private school tuition is often unattainable for most households.
Families unable to access elite private institutions, either due to discrimination or financial constraints, may fall prey to substandard schools that have emerged in states where voucher programs have been implemented. Reports of inadequate learning environments, abrupt closures, and teacher shortages in these establishments are prevalent. Meanwhile, public schools, serving the vast majority of students in the U.S., are forced to operate with limited resources to meet the needs of a diverse student population.
Students are using outdated textbooks and old computers, while teachers are overwhelmed trying to educate children without adequate resources. The choice between a private school that may reject or discriminate against your child and an under-resourced public school is not a real choice. The severe cuts to public education due to vouchers are leading to school closures, especially affecting Black and Brown neighborhoods. This forces students to start over in unfamiliar environments, often far from home, adapting to new teachers and peers. When neighborhood schools close, communities lose important resources and civic infrastructure. Grassroots organizers in Black and Brown communities are fighting to save their public schools. They are attending board meetings, leading walk-outs, and even participating in hunger strikes. They are at the forefront of local battles against voucher programs to protect and preserve public schools. The future of our public schools, which serve all children for free, is at stake. Rather than cutting funding, lawmakers should invest in public education to uphold the promise of equal education that the civil rights movement fought for. Contact us at letters@time.com.
