Teachers Unions Urge Rejection of Vouchers Threatening Public Schools

Unions Urge Democratic Governors to Reject Private School Voucher Program

WASHINGTON—In a recent open letter, the leaders of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have reached out to Democratic governors, urging them to oppose the Trump administration's private school voucher initiative. This program is viewed by these unions as a significant threat to the public education system, which serves nearly 90% of K–12 students across the United States.

Randi Weingarten, President of AFT, and Becky Pringle, President of NEA, emphasized the importance of public education, stating, "Public education is a core value of our communities and the foundation of a thriving democracy. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education in well-supported public schools."

The union leaders expressed concerns about the voucher program, describing it as a "Trojan horse" that could introduce widespread private school vouchers, even in states where the public has voted against such measures. Their communication follows a similar letter sent earlier by education unions from 23 Democratic-led states, also advising against opting into the program.

The letter further warns that adopting the voucher system could lead to reduced public school enrollment, impacting state revenue per student while leaving fixed costs unchanged. This financial shift could burden state budgets, potentially costing states $50 billion annually, and might necessitate cuts to essential federal programs like Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Highlighting Project 2025, the letter underscores the Democratic National Committee's 2024 platform, which opposes private-school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and similar initiatives that redirect public educational resources. "The underlying strength of America rests on the provision of education to all as a public good. We shouldn’t gamble our future on promises made by an administration relentlessly dedicated to undermining that public good," wrote Weingarten and Pringle, advocating for the rejection of the voucher program to safeguard public education's future.

The AFT represents a diverse workforce, including 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education staff, government employees, nurses, healthcare workers, and early childhood educators.

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