Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calling for a special legislative session to push a private school vouchers program on Texas families:
“Greg Abbott is trying to strong-arm the Texas state legislature to pass private school vouchers even though there is clear bipartisan opposition. Regardless of what they are called, vouchers don’t work: they don’t improve student achievement, they lack accountability, they fund discrimination, and they divert desperately needed money away from public schools, especially those in rural areas.
“Vouchers also violate religious freedom by forcing taxpayers to pay for private religious education – which makes Abbott’s ploy to enlist faith leaders to sell his scheme on ‘School Choice Sunday’ (Oct. 15) all the more shameful. Everyone in Texas deserves better. Public funds belong in public schools.”
Americans United is co-chair of the National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE), a national anti-voucher coalition that works to oppose private school vouchers and protect public education.
Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, AU educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
Liz Hayes
Associate Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
