“Fund North Carolina’s future by funding our public schools.”
- Tamika Walker Kelly, president of NCAE
Raleigh, NC - In response to the North Carolina General Assembly's proposal to expand the state's school voucher program, Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, released the following statement urging lawmakers to fund North Carolina’s future by funding our public schools:
“Every student deserves a well-rounded education that prepares them for the future, no matter their background or where they live. The role of our state government is to ensure access to that education, but the expansion of vouchers for those who can afford to send their students to private schools will only perpetuate a system that deprives those communities most in need of resources.
“Most North Carolinians, whether they live in urban, suburban or rural counties, want public schools that are fully equipped with the resources to provide a quality education and the skills all students need to thrive. The proposal to remove restrictions for who can access private school vouchers will increase public funds going into the hands of schools that don’t have to adhere to the same standards set by the NC Department of Public Instruction and can select the students they want to enroll.
“Rather than expanding a program that by its definition cannot support every student, let’s invest in our public schools so students have safe schools, inviting classrooms, a well-rounded curriculum, class sizes that are small enough for one-on-one attention, and support services such as health care, nutrition, and after-school programs for students who need them.
“Fund North Carolina’s future by funding our public schools.”
