Why the Chicago School Board was Right to Oppose Federal School Vouchers
And why more local and state leaders should speak out
The Chicago School Board recently voted 15-0 to oppose Illinois’s participation in Donald Trump’s terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad voucher scheme.
Illinois Families for Public Schools supported the Board’s decision - and wrote about why.
When public education is under threat of being swept away entirely at the national level, it is the duty of elected school boards to take a stance and speak out.
As the organization notes:
Open debate and a vote on where the Board stands on issues like the federal voucher program, ideally followed up by vigorous advocacy by the Board—is exactly why Chicagoans fought for years for a democratically elected representative school board. The school board should ensure the district is lobbying in Springfield for the best interests of their students and the Board’s constituents. This is not in conflict with their other duties, especially when it comes to funding and resources for our schools, it is a prerequisite for them to be able to fulfill their other duties, fiduciary and educational.
Cassie Creswell, ILFPS Executive Director, said at the meeting:
Private schools do not serve all kids. They discriminate and exclude. And all voucher programs divert tax dollars to private schools, which aren’t subject to the same oversight as public schools.
If students leave public schools to use vouchers, districts’ lose funding directly due to the loss of per-pupil funding, and also indirectly when they can’t rapidly reduce fixed costs, like building maintenance or staffing.
