One of the most empowering sessions at this year’s Summit for Religious Freedom was “How to Talk About Vouchers: Mythbusting the Scheme to Shift Public Funds to Private Religious Schools.” This wasn’t just a panel — to me, it was a call to action.
A panel of experts, brilliantly moderated by AU Associate Vice President for Public Policy Dena Sher, laid bare the decades-long push by billionaires, lobbyists and Christian Nationalists to siphon public money away from public schools and into private religious institutions. It’s all part of a broader effort to defund and dismantle public education.
Panelists revealed how these so-called “school choice” movements are rooted in misinformation and driven by those seeking to undermine — not improve — student success. It was sobering to see how power and money are being used to erode our democratic institutions and literally steal our children’s futures by leaving millions of students behind.
But the session didn’t stop at exposing harm. It gave us something even more important: tools. Real, everyday language we can use to talk about vouchers with our neighbors, school boards and lawmakers. It reminded me that defending public schools is just as vital as defending democracy itself — and that advocacy isn’t always about big speeches. Sometimes it starts with a heartfelt conversation.
What struck me most was how this session echoed a powerful theme running through the entire conference: demanding action. It was no coincidence that on the very first day, as the nation rallied to protect democracy, SRF didn’t just reflect that urgency — it became part of it.
I left that room feeling more ready — and more hopeful — than ever to speak up and stand strong for our schools, our kids and our shared values. This fight touches all of us. And with knowledge, community and courage, we’re not just pushing back – we’re building forward.