The Baptist Joint Committee responds to a new proposal that would revive the DC school voucher program.

K. Hollyn Hollman, general counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, applauded the attention that education reform is receiving on Capitol Hill, but said sending public tax dollars to private religious schools is not the answer.

“School vouchers are a lose-lose proposition,” Hollman said. “Schools lose because much-needed funds are diverted from the public system. Students lose because some are left to languish in under-funded public schools, while voucher recipients attend schools lacking accountability to federal taxpayers.

“By funding religious schools with taxpayer money, school vouchers violate the consciences of citizens who disagree with the religious teachings of the schools,” Hollman said. “Such funding also invites governmental regulation of religious institutions, which should frighten all Americans who cherish religious liberty.”