Congress is currently debating legislation that would require every state to have a private school voucher program. National PTA opposes this legislation because it would hurt public schools and the millions of families and children served by them. At PTA, we believe public funds should stay in public schools, but this bill would funnel billions of dollars away from public schools toward private institutions that lack accountability and deprive students of key protections and support needed to help them succeed.
Today, we are gathering stories from PTA members across the country on how school voucher programs have negatively impacted your children and community, and we plan to share some of these messages with elected officials who are on the fence about supporting a new national school voucher bill. We’ve created this story-sharing feature so your elected officials can hear directly from you, in your own words.
We want to hear if:
- As a community member, you care about the impact of a national school voucher program.
- You are a parent who tried to use a school voucher but was not able to do so, or you used a school voucher but were disappointed with your experience.
- You live in a rural community where there are limited options for school choice.
- Your school has experienced budget issues because of the presence of school voucher programs in your state.
We need your voice to make an impact. It will only take a few minutes, but your story could change the trajectory in the fight to keep the federal government focused on the need for more funding for our public schools. Share your story today.
Here are a few guidelines to share your story:
Personalization is key. Why is this issue important to you, specifically? Consider why funding for public schools would also be important to your state? Your school district? Your school? Your family?
Keep your story short and concise. The average person reads an email for only 11 seconds. Good story sharing will grab the readers' attention in the first sentence. We ask that you try to keep your story to 3-5 sentences, if possible. However, please provide all pertinent details.
Show your passion. Elected officials won't remember every statistic you share, but they will remember how you made them feel. Connect with your elected official person-to-person.
When you're done, please share this opportunity with others in your school community. The more voices, the better.
Remember, as a constituent and a voter, your elected official cares about what you have to say. Share your story so we can bring your words to Capitol Hill and protect public school funding today.