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. 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, stopschoolvouchers.org. 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.

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: https://stopschoolvouchers.org!

In solidarity,