Dear Friend,
As moms, we know what it takes for our kids to thrive in school: Great teachers, safe classrooms, and the certainty that every child, regardless of ZIP code, race, or ability, can count on a strong neighborhood public school. But, that promise is under attack by the national voucher scheme that Republican leaders in Congress rammed through last year, a giveaway that lets wealthy donors turn up to $1,700 in “scholarship” payments into dollar-for-dollar tax credits, no federal cap, no accountability, no guarantee kids with disabilities are even welcome.1,2
But here’s the good news: Senators Mark Kelly and Mazie Hirono just introduced the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act, Senate Bill 4297, to repeal that voucher scheme. Real talk, I’m cheering so loud the dog is literally hiding under the kitchen table. 3
Let me break this down and tell y’all why this is SO important! Every missing dollar shows up in our kids’ backpacks:
- Fewer counsers,
- Larger classes, and
- “Sorry, we can’t afford new math books this year. And our arts program is cut.”
Keep Public Funds in Public Schools!
Been there, and it’s heartbreaking.
Kids with disabilities get hit first. Private schools that take voucher money can still say “no thanks” to an IEP, while public schools never get that option, and that’s how it should be. We’ve seen the nightmare in Arizona. Universal vouchers there ballooned costs, while public-school teachers begged parents to buy copy paper.4 I don’t want that for any child, anywhere, and I know you don’t either.
→ Click to add your name, telling your senators to back the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act.
Our public schools are the one place where kids from every background sit criss-cross applesauce on the same rug and learn how to share crayons, facts, and a future. That matters more than any billionaire’s tax loophole.
→ Join Us! Tell your senators to keep public funds in public schools!
And, thanks for squeezing advocacy between dinner, dishes, and bedtime stories. We know how hard it is, and we know better than most that moms get stuff done.
In solidarity and with half a PB&J in hand,
– Beatriz, Ruth, Taylor, Kelsey, and the entire MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team
P.S. – As we navigate these challenging times, I hope you can make space for self-care, recognizing that resting is not idleness, but a necessity, and we need all of us to win the change our families and nation need!
References:
[1] “School Vouchers Explained: What the New Federal Program Means | Harvard Graduate School of Education“
[2] “H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.“
[3] “Kelly, Hirono Lead Bill to Repeal Federal Private School Voucher Program, Keep Public Dollars in Public Schools“
[4]”Don’t follow Arizona’s example. End universal vouchers now | Opinion“
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