1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

As a constituent, I urge you to support and co-sponsor any legislation to keep state dollars from being used for school voucher programs. Individuals receiving tax credits or taxpayer funded vouchers for private schools as tuition funnels money away from already underfunded public education. If allowed these voucher program will divert significant taxpayer funded dollars to private and religious schools, weakening the public schools that educate 9 out of every 10 students. Entire communities will suffer, especially in rural areas where 20 percent of our students live and public schools are economic centers. Private schools do not provide the same protections public schools are required to provide by law—Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Special needs students will lose important legal rights and protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. America cannot afford to fund two education systems—one private and one public. It should be SC state priority to strengthen public education, not undermine it. Please support and cosponsor legislation to ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to public schools open to all students, not private schools that can pick and choose their students.