New Jersey legislators are being pressured to push the voucher bill (S-1872) on a fast track.
This legislation would strip $360 million from our public schools to send students to private and religious schools, and allows corporations to receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits for contributions to “scholarship funds” to funnel the money to students.
Governor Christie has already cut $1.3 billion from New Jersey’s public schools. The last thing we need to do is drain another $360 million from them, yet S-1872 would do just that.
And, the cost of the voucher would come directly out of the state aid of any district losing a student to a voucher school, making it even harder to educate the students who remain.
It is unconscionable for the Legislature to consider taking even more money from our public schools – already under heavy accountability demands from the state and federal governments – and give that money to unaccountable private and religious schools that do not have to hire certified teachers, do not have to administer state testing, do not have to offer special education services, and do not have to admit all students.
We must take action today! We need you to do three things:
1. Call and e-mail Senator Paul Sarlo, Chairman of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, and ask him NOT to hear S-1872. Click here for talking points on the legislation, and call Senator Sarlo at 201-804-8118.
2. Call and e-mail your Assembly members and voice your opposition to A-2810, the Assembly version of the bill. Click here to contact your Assembly members.
3. Please forward this link to at least five friends who share your commitment to public education, and urge them to call and e-mail Sen. Sarlo and their Assembly members.
We must move quickly to prevent even more damage to New Jersey’s high quality public schools. Click here for data on how New Jersey’s public schools outperform private schools.