Tell Governor Spanberger: Opt Out of the Federal Voucher Scheme and Stand With Virginia’s Public Schools

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Tell Governor Spanberger: Opt Out of the Federal Voucher Scheme and Stand With Virginia’s Public Schools

Governor Abigail Spanberger

Why This Matters

Public schools are the heart of Virginia’s communities. They open their doors to every child, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they need.

But on January 1, a dangerous federal voucher program threatens to drain public school funding into private school tuitions. The eligibility car is set absurdly high - 300% of the Area Median Income (AMI) - which opens the door for wealthy families who can already afford private school, qualify for a tax payer funded handout.

This isn’t a "tax credit" for those in need. It’s a new entitlement for the rich.

We can’t afford to strip money from classrooms that are already stretched thin. According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), universal voucher programs like this one proposed in Virginia completely lack financial accountability, invite fraud, and often drive up private school tuition - locking out working-class families they claim to help. Worse, private schools pocketing these funds are exempt from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), leaving parents of students with disabilities with zero legal recourse if their child is denied services.

Six governors have already refused this program: Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, Governor Tina Kotek of Oregon, Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin, and Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, and Governor Josh Green of Hawaii.

Virginia isn't locked into it yet. Tell Governor Spanberger to stand with public schools: refuse to certify any list of private school scholarship-granting organizations and to opt Virginia out of this voucher scheme.

Sponsored by

VA Public School Strong

To: Governor Abigail Spanberger
From: [Your Name]

Governor Spanberger,

Public schools are the foundation of Virginia’s future. When we let anything pull funding away from our public schools, that foundation weakens, and so does what our children can achieve.

While public education faces constant challenges across the country, Virginia has ways to protect the progress it has made. We have growing support from families who send their children to public schools. We have the Virginia Community School framework. We have dedicated professional educators who work tirelessly every day to help our students succeed. And we can choose to avoid anything that undermines their hard work.

A federal voucher program scheduled to begin on January 1st threatens the progress we’ve made. Waiting until year’s end to review the full rules is falling into a trap, not due diligence. We already know enough about this program to know it will harm our children.

Our previous governor tried to force this decision on Virginia on his way out the door. Now, Governor Spanburger, the choice is yours: join with many other governors across the country who have chosen to stand with public schools or weaken our state’s future. It is time to opt out of this federal voucher program disguised as a tax credit.

Our public school districts are fighting for every dollar they can get to build a brighter future for Virginia. Show our schools, our communities, and all our children that you are willing to stand and fight alongside them.