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Billions in taxpayer dollars now go to religious schools via vouchers

Loulit01

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The growth follows a string of recent victories in the Supreme Court and state legislatures by religious conservatives who have campaigned to tear down what once were constitutional prohibitions against spending tax money directly on religious education. It also marks a win for the school choice movement, which has spent decades campaigning to let parents use tax money for any school they see fit.
Voucher programs, which vary in their details, have grown particularly large in a half-dozen states. In each of these, participating families have overwhelmingly chosen religious schools, sometimes using the subsidy for schools their children were already attending before the programs began.

In Wisconsin, 96 percent of about 55,000 vouchers given this school year went toward religious schools, The Post found. In Indiana, 98 percent of vouchers go to religious schools. (Indiana state data only specifies the number of vouchers for schools with at least 10 recipients.)

In Florida, several programs combine to make every student in the state eligible for vouchers, with more than 400,000 participating this year. At least 82 percent of students attend religious schools, The Post found. Florida is first in the nation in both the number of enrolled students and total cost of the voucher program — more than $3 billion this yea
r.

No pay wall.


It's a long article but it's well worth reading.

P.S. Taxpayers funding religious schools is wrong on many, many, many levels.
 
The growth follows a string of recent victories in the Supreme Court and state legislatures by religious conservatives who have campaigned to tear down what once were constitutional prohibitions against spending tax money directly on religious education. It also marks a win for the school choice movement, which has spent decades campaigning to let parents use tax money for any school they see fit.
Voucher programs, which vary in their details, have grown particularly large in a half-dozen states. In each of these, participating families have overwhelmingly chosen religious schools, sometimes using the subsidy for schools their children were already attending before the programs began.

In Wisconsin, 96 percent of about 55,000 vouchers given this school year went toward religious schools, The Post found. In Indiana, 98 percent of vouchers go to religious schools. (Indiana state data only specifies the number of vouchers for schools with at least 10 recipients.)

In Florida, several programs combine to make every student in the state eligible for vouchers, with more than 400,000 participating this year. At least 82 percent of students attend religious schools, The Post found. Florida is first in the nation in both the number of enrolled students and total cost of the voucher program — more than $3 billion this yea
r.

No pay wall.


It's a long article but it's well worth reading.

P.S. Taxpayers funding religious schools is wrong on many, many, many levels.
There is no reason for the business of churches to be protected from taxes.
 
Public money should not fund religious schools, even indirectly. I don't expect the Federalist Society Court of the United States to say so. But it's a blatant end run - and not even really a run, more of a mini-hop - around the establishment clause. If a state government cannot have religious public schools, vouchers should not be able to be used at private ones.
 
The growth follows a string of recent victories in the Supreme Court and state legislatures by religious conservatives who have campaigned to tear down what once were constitutional prohibitions against spending tax money directly on religious education. It also marks a win for the school choice movement, which has spent decades campaigning to let parents use tax money for any school they see fit.
Voucher programs, which vary in their details, have grown particularly large in a half-dozen states. In each of these, participating families have overwhelmingly chosen religious schools, sometimes using the subsidy for schools their children were already attending before the programs began.

In Wisconsin, 96 percent of about 55,000 vouchers given this school year went toward religious schools, The Post found. In Indiana, 98 percent of vouchers go to religious schools. (Indiana state data only specifies the number of vouchers for schools with at least 10 recipients.)

In Florida, several programs combine to make every student in the state eligible for vouchers, with more than 400,000 participating this year. At least 82 percent of students attend religious schools, The Post found. Florida is first in the nation in both the number of enrolled students and total cost of the voucher program — more than $3 billion this yea
r.

No pay wall.


It's a long article but it's well worth reading.

P.S. Taxpayers funding religious schools is wrong on many, many, many levels.

This is a direct threat to public education and to the Establishment Clause. No more vouchers!
 
Vouchers benefit parents that otherwise couldn’t afford a private school. Why should only rich people have a choice of schools for their children?
 
Vouchers benefit parents that otherwise couldn’t afford a private school. Why should only rich people have a choice of schools for their children?
Fine. Private but not religious. Why?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
 
Fine. Private but not religious. Why?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Many of the better private schools are parochial schools. Let’s be real, this isn’t a problem because of some perceived violation of the establishment clause (which this does not do in any sense) it’s a problem because a lot of people don’t like that kids might be taught about religion.
 
The growth follows a string of recent victories in the Supreme Court and state legislatures by religious conservatives who have campaigned to tear down what once were constitutional prohibitions against spending tax money directly on religious education. It also marks a win for the school choice movement, which has spent decades campaigning to let parents use tax money for any school they see fit.
Voucher programs, which vary in their details, have grown particularly large in a half-dozen states. In each of these, participating families have overwhelmingly chosen religious schools, sometimes using the subsidy for schools their children were already attending before the programs began.

In Wisconsin, 96 percent of about 55,000 vouchers given this school year went toward religious schools, The Post found. In Indiana, 98 percent of vouchers go to religious schools. (Indiana state data only specifies the number of vouchers for schools with at least 10 recipients.)

In Florida, several programs combine to make every student in the state eligible for vouchers, with more than 400,000 participating this year. At least 82 percent of students attend religious schools, The Post found. Florida is first in the nation in both the number of enrolled students and total cost of the voucher program — more than $3 billion this yea
r.

No pay wall.


It's a long article but it's well worth reading.

P.S. Taxpayers funding religious schools is wrong on many, many, many levels.

Well, the taxpayer that chose to send their child to whatever school, is also a taxpayer, but now their share is going to the chosen school. I don't see the problem.
School budgets are per pupil in most cases, that I'm aware of.
 
Many of the better private schools are parochial schools. Let’s be real, this isn’t a problem because of some perceived violation of the establishment clause (which this does not do in any sense) it’s a problem because a lot of people don’t like that kids might be taught about religion.
Then they don't have to go there.
 
Many of the better private schools are parochial schools. Let’s be real, this isn’t a problem because of some perceived violation of the establishment clause (which this does not do in any sense) it’s a problem because a lot of people don’t like that kids might be taught about religion.

BS. We don't care if someone teaches their kids religion. We just don't want to spend OUR money on it.
 
Stupid and wrong and anti-American.
 
This is a direct threat to public education and to the Establishment Clause. No more vouchers!
Then public schools need to step up their game. Yes to vouchers and to choice for where you send your child for an education!
 
Parents have lost faith in the public school system - especially in city school systems - for good reason. The facilities are abominable and academic performance is poor despite being lavished with public funds.
Then fix them. Taxpayer dollars should never ever go to religious institutions. This is insane.
 
Parents have lost faith in the public school system - especially in city school systems - for good reason. The facilities are abominable and academic performance is poor despite being lavished with public funds.

Are not public schools the responsibility of the government?
 
School choice is a good thing.

For many rural districts, choice is not an option. So they see their tax dollars used for a program they don't have access to.

And with no income restrictions on who gets school choice money, the wealthy can get money while others get left out.
 
Why shouldn’t lower income families have the same options as richer families?

School choice isn't limited to lower income families. Nice thought though.
 
How is it anti-American?
We were founded on a basis of separation of church and state. We should be free to practice any religion, and the government should not be involved in any religion in any way.

How is it stupid for parents to be able to send their child where they want for an education?
It isn't, and I didn't say it was. Parents have always been free to send their child where they want for an education.

..
 
For many rural districts, choice is not an option. So they see their tax dollars used for a program they don't have access to.

And with no income restrictions on who gets school choice money, the wealthy can get money while others get left out.
The wealthy can always get whatever education they want for their kids. Vouchers benefit lower income families.
 
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