Religious Action Center - School Vouchers

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

URL: http://rac.org/advocacy/issues/issuevouch/index.cfm?

Background and Constitutionality

General information on school vouchers programs and constitutional concerns

School Vouchers and Jewish Values

Learn more about what Judaism teaches us about this issue and why the Reform Movement opposes school vouchers

State and Local Battles

Information about notable school vouchers in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, Arizona, and Washington, D.C.

Press Releases

June 9, 2005

Reform Jewish Movement Voices Disappointment at the Confirmation of Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor

December 8, 2001

Leader of Reform Judaism Calls for Overhaul of Religious Education; Says Vouchers Would Destroy Public School System

September 26, 2001

Reform Jewish Movement Reacts to U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Consider Constitutionality of School Vouchers

December 11, 2000

Nation's Largest Jewish Organization Applauds Rejection of Vouchers by Federal Appeals Court

May 5, 2000

Nation’s Largest Jewish Organization Concerned Over Proposed Religious Involvement in Charter Schools

February 25, 2000

Reform Jewish Movement Speaks Out Against Misguided Bankruptcy Reform

October 21, 1999

Reform Jewish Movement Commends House Votes as Recommitment to Public Education

June 11, 1998

Reform Jewish Movement Scores Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision on School Vouchers

For More Information

To learn more, contact RAC Legislative Assistant Liz Piper-Goldberg or visit the following websites:

Take Action
To defend the future of public education and the important separation between church and state, opposition to voucher proposals must continue to come from religious communities. In Florida, rabbis and social action chairs used the Religious Action Center's opposition guide as a resource to deliver sermons, hold study sessions and speak out against Florida's voucher plan. Congregations in Pennsylvania and Texas were also successful in their opposition activities.

Read What Can You Do To Support Public Education And Combat Vouchers, part of the Protecting the Wall, Supporting Our Schools; The Reform Movement's Campaign for Public Education publication. Created to accompany Rabbi Eric Yoffie's President's Message at the 66th URJ Biennial, "Protecting the Wall" is the beginning of the URJ's campaign to support public education. This publication discusses school vouchers, Jewish values and public education, and what you can do to oppose vouchers and support public education.