OPPOSITION TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS

WHEREAS, the American public and parents remain deeply attached to the institution of public education; and

WHEREAS, our cherished tradition of public schools that are free and equally open to all on the basis of equal citizenship continues to be vital to our pluralistic democracy; and

WHEREAS, the American public, parents, and school staff believe there are serious shortcomings in our public schools but want public schools fixed, not abandoned; and

WHEREAS, the education reform that the American public and parents, across all demographic groups, as well as school staff, overwhelmingly support is high standards of conduct and achievement in our public schools, and not vouchers or other forms of school privatization; and

WHEREAS, the evidence from here and abroad does not support the argument that vouchers and other methods to establish a market system of schools will improve school or student performance, while the evidence is incontrovertible that high standards of conduct and achievement do have that result; and

WHEREAS, elected officials in a democracy have an especial political and moral obligation to be responsive when popular will, the public interest and solid evidence of positive results all converge:

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates continue to work to defeat voucher and other radical, school privatization proposals; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates continue to educate its members, the public and parents about the evidence against vouchers as an instrument of educational and social improvement; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates continue to pursue the education reform that is the real "school choice" of parents and the public - high standards of conduct and achievement in our public schools - as the alternative to vouchers; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates make opposition to vouchers and similar school privatization schemes and support for high standards of conduct and achievement in our public schools a key issue in political education materials and in endorsing candidates for public office.