COFI and POWER-PAC IL parent leaders have signed a letter, along with more than 40 organizations, urging Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to say no to a federal school voucher program and to protect public schools!
COFI and POWER-PAC IL have always believed that Illinois students deserve access to high-quality public schools. In 2023, parents joined calls to sunset Invest in Kids, which succeeded!
It’s also important to recognize that private schools, even those accepting publicly-funded vouchers, are not subject to the same civil rights laws that public schools in Illinois must follow. That means there is no oversight or protection from discrimination against diverse learners, English learners, and LGBTQ+ students.
To take action, follow these steps from the Illinois Families for Public Schools:
- Call Governor Pritzker’s Springfield or Chicago offices. Here’s a quick script you can use or adapt:
- “I’m a constituent and a supporter of public schools, and I’m asking Governor Pritzker to make a public commitment that Illinois will NOT participate in the federal voucher program. Vouchers divert public dollars to private schools. We’ve seen vouchers before in Illinois, and they fund discrimination and hurt education equity. Illinois should fully fund its public schools.”
COFI-trained leaders remain steadfast in the fight for education equity, ensuring that public resources are prioritized for our public schools rather than private institutions.
Photo credit: Illinois Families for Public Schools
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