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Now more than at any moment in recent history, the promise of public education is under attack and becoming increasingly vulnerable. The federal administration鈥檚 actions 鈥� including the first-ever, nationwide tax-credit voucher program 鈥� are framed as expanding 鈥減arental choice鈥� and embracing traditional American values. Taken in context of other administration actions, the true impact and likely intent is to further destabilize education, divert public tax dollars into private institutions and deepen inequality. 

The promise of public education should not be about competition; rather it should be a commitment to serve every child regardless of family income, ability, ZIP code or race. A robust and fully resourced public school system not only supports all children in fulfilling their potential but also strengthens the foundation of our country by creating an educated populace prepared to participate in a multiracial democracy. 

The current federal administration鈥檚 regressive policies could plunge communities deeper into a competitive marketplace where some students win and the majority 鈥� particularly students of color and low-income students 鈥� lose. 

In Fall 2022, of students attending public schools were students of color. Additionally, during the 2021-2022 school year, attended schools where 75% or more students were of a single race or ethnicity. What this tells us is that our schools remain divided along racial, ethnic, and economic lines.

Private school choice programs by drawing public funds away from public  schools, whether they are structured as traditional vouchers, education savings accounts, or tax credits such as those Congress approved in H.R. 1. These programs increase segregation by concentrating students of color in underfunded public schools while benefiting wealthier, white families. 

from the Partnership for Equity & Education Rights (PEER) and 31 education advocacy groups across 19 states outlines the harms caused by these programs at the state level, including the impact on state budgets, fraud, lack of oversight, and the inequities they perpetuate. The report highlights that voucher programs are costly, ineffective, and do not end up serving the students they promise to serve. 

State voucher programs often blow past their state budgets and drain resources from public schools serving the vast majority of children. For example, in Arizona, universal voucher programs cost the state $517 million more than anticipated in its first year, exceeding the budget by more than 1,000%. Iowa faced a similar issue when their private school voucher program surpassed its anticipated cost by $46.9 million in its second year. 

These miscalculations can divert funds away from public schools and lead to challenging budgetary decisions, including laying off teachers, shutting down schools and cutting additional resources critical to support all students鈥� growth and development. 

Across the country, increased funding for public schools is the overwhelming choice of parents when considering what is best for their children and communities. A recent poll showed that both Republican and Democratic voters rather than for voucher programs. In 2024, rejected efforts to expand school choice programs. 

As of the 2021-2022 school year, of the country鈥檚 roughly 54.6 million K-12 students attended public schools. Reports of a mass exodus from public schools are an oversimplification at best, and misrepresentation at worst. What鈥檚 more, these reports are incomplete if they do not acknowledge historical patterns of discrimination and as drivers of that declining enrollment. Voucher programs are not a solution; in fact, they make existing problems worse.

What鈥檚 more,  the majority of voucher recipients were already attending private schools. For example, in Florida, 69% of new voucher recipients were already enrolled in private school, and only 13% left their public schools to enter the program. In Arkansas, only 5% of recipients in 2023-2024 transferred from public schools. In Wisconsin, 80% of voucher recipients had never attended public school.

So let鈥檚 be clear: These are not programs that are offering opportunities to historically marginalized and underserved students, but rather are tax breaks for families who already could afford to send their children to private schools.  

Voucher programs also raise significant civil rights concerns because private schools receiving the public money are that apply to public schools. That results in fewer protections against policies and practices that may exclude students on the basis of protected classes such as race, gender, ability, sexual orientation and religion. So in reality, the 鈥渃hoice鈥� is not available for everyone. 

Illinois has taken steps to show us a better way: Lawmakers allowed the state鈥檚 tax credit program to expire, recognizing that diverting money to private schools undermined public schools. Yet, even Illinois, where lawmakers adopted a model designed to direct resources where they are needed most, is still far behind fully funding its . 

Across the country, families must call on state lawmakers to opt out of the nationwide voucher program, given the weak results in several states. Our priority must be protecting both state and federal education dollars and resisting privatization of our public schools.

The correlation between public education and democracy is inextricable. As a country we must all ask ourselves: Do we believe every child, not just our own, deserves a high-quality education regardless of Zip code, gender, race, and socioeconomic status? Do we want our youth to be prepared with critical thinking skills and historically accurate knowledge to fully participate in our communities and democratic institutions? 

If the answer is yes and we are willing to fight for a better future for our youth and our country, now is the time to resist regression in our local, state and federal education policies and to start demanding robust reinvestment into public education. The stakes are high, and our democracy depends on it. 

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