News From The Week Of March 15 – March 19, 2021

Friend:

Here’s a devastating statistic: $26 million of taxpayer money is sitting unused in North Carolina. That money could be used to help students in public schools. Instead, it has been set aside to prop up an overfunded voucher program to pay for education at private, mostly religious schools.

And here's another: 2. That’s the number of years that Georgia has fully funded public education in the last 19 years, according to its own formula.

These are just two of the many reasons why this week, Americans United launched a campaign aimed at supporting public funds for public schools, particularly in North Carolina and Georgia ([link removed]). Our new digital ad, “Free To Be Me,” highlights how private religious schools can discriminate against students because of who they are or what they believe.

You can watch it right now on our campaign site, [link removed]. When you visit the site, you can also sign up to take action with AU against private school voucher bills across America.

Unlike private religious schools, public schools embrace religious diversity – and when they don’t, there is accountability. Yesterday, a federal court of appeals ruled that Bremerton School District in Washington state protected students’ religious freedom when it stopped high school football coach Joseph Kennedy from leading students in prayer on the football field immediately after games. Read more here: [link removed]

AU Legal Director Richard B. Katskee participated in oral arguments in support of the school earlier this year, and AU filed a friend-of-the-court brief along with 17 other religious freedom and interfaith organizations. This ruling is a victory for religious freedom everywhere, but especially for students at public schools, who rely on their schools to be welcoming and inclusive environments for everyone.

AU has defended public schools since our founding, way back in 1947, and we’re able to continue that fight today because of your support, friend. Thanks for being with us. If you want to bring your friends and family along too, please forward them this email or share our campaign site with them: [link removed]!

In solidarity,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

Five Reasons Why You Should Oppose Private School Vouchers:
Here are five fast facts you can use to explain why your friends and neighbors should oppose private school vouchers.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Americans United Tells Florida Legislators: No More Private School Vouchers:
Legislators in Florida are considering a new private school voucher bill that would divert even more taxpayer dollars away from public schools into the coffers of private institutions, including religious ones.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Private Religious Schools Teach Inaccurate, Controversial Things. You Shouldn’t Have To Pay For It:
There are young people all over America right now learning not just that evolution is weak, but that it’s false. These children are being taught that the Earth, which we know to be five billion years old, is only 6,000 years old,
READ MORE » [link removed]

New Americans United Video, Website Highlight Why You Should Support Public Schools By Opposing Private School Vouchers:
AU's new campaign highlights how private school vouchers threaten the education and equality of our schoolchildren, our public schools, church-state separation and our shared values.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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