AFT's Weingarten on Douglas County (Colo.) School Board's Rejection of Private School Vouchers

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the Douglas County, Colo., school board voted 6-0 (with one abstention) to end its Choice Scholarship Program and cease defending it in court. The decision has national implications for the public funding of private schools:

“Tonight's unanimous decision of the Douglas County school board to end its voucher program is a resounding victory for every child, parent and teacher in America who believes in the promise of public education. The voters of Douglas County, by overwhelmingly electing public school champions to the board last month, sent a clear message that privatization doesn't work and unfair handouts for private schools must end. Elections have consequences. Tonight, the board sided with public schools and public school students and their families over those who would seek to destabilize, disrupt and defund them to serve their own ends. The privatizers' argument before the Colorado Supreme Court is now moot."