Take action today to protect public education funding in your community and call on your Governor to reject the federal voucher scam.

Beginning in January 2027, governors will have a critical choice to make. Mixed in among cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” also introduced a federal private school voucher program - a measure that could divert as much as $50 billion in taxpayer funds to K-12 private and religious schools, plus market-driven education services that replace public schools with commodification.  

Thirty governors across the US have announced their intent to opt-in to this harmful program before they even have all of the details. But here’s the thing - governors must opt in every year. Whether your governor has already opted in, is sitting on the sidelines, or even if they opted out - they need to hear from YOU!

The moment that the US Treasury releases its regulatory guidance is a tremendous organizing opportunity for public school advocates in states that haven’t opted in AND states that have. We must shine a light on how these federal vouchers are not designed to benefit public school children and use these guidelines to adamantly renew our demands for Governors to opt OUT.

Why This Matters

Public schools educate about 90% of America’s students and are accountable to families, communities, and taxpayers. Yet, increasing political efforts pushed by right-wing billionaires to redirect public funds to private schools threaten to:

• Drain resources from local public schools, leaving fewer dollars for students, teachers, and essential services, which can even result in public schools closing

• Undermine academic achievement and non-discrimination protections, as private schools are not held to the same transparency, civil rights, academic quality, fiscal soundness or reporting standards, oversight, and accountability as public schools

• Limit access and equity, as private schools are not required to serve all students and draw funding away from public schools that serve all students regardless of their background or ability

• Public schools will not benefit from this voucher program. Proposals for public school use rely on privatization tactics (such as “bundling” education) and unfounded assumptions of what these funds can be used for. Make no mistake, private schools, not public ones, stand to benefit from this program.. I.

• Over 150 trusted education justice organizations have already joined forces to reject this voucher scheme in a joint letter to all governors, warning them of the catastrophic impacts vouchers have on public education. Add your organization’s name here today!

The private school voucher program included in OBBBA could cost as much as $50 billion a year, taxpayer dollars that would be far better invested directly in federal formula programs like IDEA and Title I that support our public schools.

Remember: Even if your governor has opted your state into the program for 2027, we have a chance every year to reverse that decision - that is why we organize.

Take Action Now: send a letter directly to your Governor urging them to reject the federal voucher scheme and protect public education funding!