Tell Idaho Legislators: Say No to Vouchers

Every Idaho child deserves a quality education and every Idaho community deserves strong public schools. But Idaho legislators and special interest groups are working to create a school voucher program that would transfer tax dollars out of public schools in order to subsidize private schools. Supporters of vouchers claim they expand “school choice” by giving families an alternative to public schools. But for the vast majority of families, vouchers don’t provide better choices. Instead, vouchers siphon funds from public schools and harm communities. The consequences of a voucher program are clear: Vouchers will defund rural schools. In Idaho, the vast majority of private school students live in just four urban counties. Meanwhile, 21 rural counties have no private schools at all. Vouchers will raise property taxes. In Wisconsin, where vouchers have drained state funding for rural schools, local property taxpayers picked up the tab. Property taxes went up by $108 million a year. Vouchers will harm student achievement. Recent studies in Ohio, Indiana, and Louisiana found that voucher programs caused drastic declines in student test scores. We've launched an online petition calling on Idaho legislators to support public schools and say no to vouchers. Will you sign the petition?