The Secular Coalition for America opposes voucher schemes and other revenue shifting measures which pay for religious education. We take no position on the use of vouchers for secular private education.
In this topic:- Summary
- Position Statement
Tuition vouchers for religious schools
D.C. tuition vouchers are used primarily for religious schools.
The federal government supports religious training of District of Columbia (D.C.) students with vouchers offered through the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). Technically, the vouchers distributed via this program may be used for nonreligious schools as well, but in practice secular alternatives are not readily available. Since the vouchers cover the entire cost of most of the religious schools' tuition, there is no question that tax dollars are supporting the religious training components of these schools. The Secular Coalition for America opposes D.C. vouchers and lobbies to end this program.
The D.C. voucher program requires every U.S. taxpayer to fund religious education for D.C. children.
The Secular Coalition opposes the use of government funds for religious purposes, including vouchers for religious schools. We agree with the founders of the United States that no individual taxpayer should be required to pay for someone else's religion. While the Secular Coalition for America takes no position on the use of vouchers for secular private education, we oppose voucher schemes and other revenue shifting measures (tax breaks, direct government subsidies, etc.) which pay for religious education.
U.S. GAO report
Government report reveals data supporting opposition to D.C. vouchers.
In November, 2007, at the request of Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. Richard Durbin and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the U. S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report which bolstered the Secular Coalition for America’s arguments against D.C. vouchers.
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