In red states and blue, public school advocates rejected charter schools and vouchers when they were on the ballot.
In Kentucky, a constitutional amendment that would have permitted state dollars to fund charter and voucher schools was soundly defeated by 65% of those who voted. In every county in Kentucky, Amendement 2 failed.
Nebraska voters resoundingly rejected Nebraska’s new school voucher program passed by the legislature. Despite the influx of cash from organizations like Betsy DeVos’s American Federation for Children, friends of public education led the fight to defeat the voucher law.
In Colorado, 51% rejected Amendment 80, which would have amended the state’s constitution to allow vouchers and taxpayer subsidized homeschools. The amendment fell well short of the 55% threshold to pass it.
Whenever vouchers are put to the voters, they are rejected. But that doesn’t mean that the well-funded voucher movement will stop. Legislators who receive contributions and pressure from the billionaire proponents of vouchers will continue to push for the public funding of private schools and the destruction of public education. Whenever they try, NPE Action will be there to fight the privatization of our democratically governed public schools that welcome all students.
You can count on NPE to stand strong for public schools and their students and teachers. We will mobilize advocates, network grassroots groups, inform the public, and fight with courage and conviction.
Sign up to attend our conference this spring. We need each other more than ever.
