Policy Resolution EDU-21-35

WHEREAS, public education in the United States was established to meet the needs of a democratic society and create an educated society, vouchers have the ability to take resources that would otherwise go to public schools and send them to private schools;

WHEREAS, there has been a long and difficult struggle to achieve an equitable system of public education for all of the children of all of the people of the United States;

WHEREAS, according to a study by the Center for American Progress, their analysis builds on a large body of voucher program evaluations in Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., all of which show that students attending participating private schools perform significantly worse than their peers in public schools—especially in math;

WHEREAS, participating private schools have the ability to limit enrollment and discriminate in admissions on the basis of gender, religion, sexual orientation, ability, behavioral history, prior academic achievement, standardized test scores, interviews with applicants and parents, and income;

WHEREAS, a voucher system will not provide the support for the public-school system as well as the aspirations of millions of people of color and poor children; and

WHEREAS, the use of vouchers for private and religious schools would signal the virtual abandonment of public education.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) vigorously opposes any national, state or local campaign to institute vouchers and undermine public schools at a time when our Country and our public school system is suffering;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL believes that public education should be supported and financed at a level which would ensure all children equal access to a quality education;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that by providing increased competition and diversity of educational options does not automatically ensure a better option for quality education;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges the U.S. Congress and states to not enact any laws which would undermine public interest in providing an equitable system of public education; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Senator Brenda Gilmore (TN)
  
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Education Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Representative  Rufus Straughter (MS) and Representative Sheryl Williams-Stapleton (NM)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 3, 2020
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), President