They pull much needed resources from public schools. In order to increase student achievement, we need to focus on the vast majority of students who rely on and are benefiting from public education. Last week NSBA and National PTA launched the Protect America s Public Schools Campaign, a series of print ads, an action kit, toll free number, and a website that helps citizens contact their members of Congress to encourage them to support public education not private school vouchers. Vouchers are like the lottery-a chance system in which not everyone can win. When it comes to our children, we can t afford to take chances.
All students deserve a quality public education.
Even the most ardent supporters of vouchers, like the leaders for the National Conference on School Choice, do not provide a plan for how every child will be able to receive an alternative education. Effective schools that incorporate reform efforts like smaller class size and safe, modern facilities with access to information technology provide quality learning environments for all children. The ads also carry a toll-free number for an action kit that will include background materials on vouchers, information on how to contact members of Congress, and ways to involve other community members in the campaign. The ads are appearing in The Washington Post and Roll Call . The National PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States.