When we let vouchers drain our schools, it hurts us all.
The private school voucher program is draining precious resources from our schools and hurting our teachers, our children, taxpayers and our communities. Things are only going to change if Ohioans across the state stand up and say something. We are the ones our kids are counting on, there is no passing the buck on this one.
You can help by taking three steps. Reach out to your local school board members and tell them to join the lawsuit. Call them. Email them. Go to a meeting and testify.
It’s up to us to stand up to this threat to our public schools.
Below is a sample script that you can use when you call, email or testify. Insert the full name of your local school district and other information noted in brackets.
Sample Script:
Hi, my name is [name] and I live in [hometown] and… (tell a little bit about yourself)
I’m contacting you because I would like to know when [my school district] is going to join the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit?
The lawsuit is stronger than ever, with a historic decision from Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jaize Page ruling that the EdChoice private school voucher program is unconstitutional – affirming what we have known all along. Private school vouchers hurt Ohio, our schools, teachers, students and most importantly: they are unconstitutional. But the fight is far from over, in fact it’s just beginning. Tax dollars are still flowing to private, mainly religious schools primarily for wealthy families.
[My school district] and all public schools are losing money to the private school voucher program. This year, more than $1.5 billion in public tax dollars will go to pay for private school vouchers.
[My district] needs to stand up for our children, our local taxpayers, our businesses, and our community because Vouchers Hurt [my school district].
The lawsuit is simple. Vouchers are unconstitutional on three counts as follows::
1. Vouchers created a separate and unequal system of schools, one for the haves and one for the have nots. The Ohio Constitution is clear: one system of common schools open to all children for the common good.
2. State not funding public schools and over-reliance on property taxes. As the state shifts billions of our tax dollars to private school operators, we are either going to have to reduce school services or pass more local levies.
3. The Ohio Constitution and our framers were crystal clear: no tax dollars to religious schools. The Ohio Constitution states…“no religious or other sect, or sects, shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of this state.”
More than 300 school districts have joined the lawsuit and [my school district] needs to join as well.
The state is siphoning away $1.5 billion for private schools and the money comes directly from the same line-item in the state budget that pays for public schools like ours. This means a dollar more for private school vouchers is literally a dollar less for public schools like ours.
It will cost [my school district] just $2 per pupil per year and that is a pittance compared to the costs we will bear if private school vouchers continue to expand. Did you know the legislature now wants to give tax dollars to private schools for buildings? We need improved buildings and facilities and new school buses in our district.
As a [Board Member, Superintendent, Treasurer] you have the power and the responsibility to protect our schools.
Your community, your neighbors are depending on you.
I have a rejoinder resolution for you and I would be more than happy to give it to you or bring it before the next school board meeting for you to pass.
Thank you, [Name]