Dear _____________,

My name is ____________ and I live at ______________ in ____________County.   I am concerned about the education savings accounts bill that has been introduced during this legislative session.   Education savings accounts are simply another name for vouchers.   I do not believe a school voucher program will benefit our state because vouchers divert attention, commitment, and dollars from public schools to subsidize private-school tuition for a few students, including many who already attend private schools which will create new costs for taxpayers. A dollar spent on a tuition voucher is a dollar drained from public education. Vouchers also eliminate public accountability: They channel tax dollars into private schools that do not face state-approved academic standards, do not make budgets public, do not adhere to open meetings, do not publicly report on student achievement, and do not face the public accountability requirements contained in state and federal laws, including special-education laws.

Instead of passing these bills, I believe the state of West Virginia should fully fund its public schools. Our state has been at the bottom nationally for many years.  How can we expect to achieve excellence in our public schools if we refuse to properly fund them? I also believe the legislature should encourage citizens to support our public schools instead of attempting to dismantle the system. Please vote “NO” on the education savings account bill, Senate Bill 6, and fight for adequate funding and support for our public schools.

Sincerely,

(Include contact information–including address–here.)

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