Coalition Letter

September 12, 2002

United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

The undersigned members of the National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) urge you to oppose H.R. 5193, the Back to School Education Tax Relief Act of 2002, which would do nothing to improve public education.

The National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE), made up of education, civic, civil rights, labor, and religious organizations, strongly opposes the diversion of public funds to private and religious schools through mechanisms such as tuition tax subsidies and vouchers.

The Back to School Education Tax Relief Act of 2002 would expand the existing deduction for college tuition to provide a $3,000 per year deduction for elementary/secondary education expenses for public, private, religious, and home schools. These expenses could include costs incurred at these schools for tuition, books, supplies, and other equipment. In addition, the money could pay for uniforms, transportation, and other supplemental services such as extended-day programs (other than for home schools); and for the purchase of computer technology if used by the student or the student's family.

The National Coalition for Public Education opposes this bill because:

Limited public funds could be better invested in other areas of K-12 education.

· The Joint Committee on Tax estimated that the cost of this proposal is $4.9 billion over five years, however, if it is made permanent once approved, this provision would cost more than $15 billion over ten years. These funds should be invested in public education instead, where 90 percent of school-age children are enrolled. This deduction does nothing to raise academic standards for all children, reduce class size, provide safe learning environments, improve teacher quality, expand after-school learning opportunities, increase parent involvement, or modernize school buildings.

· The deduction would not expand parents' educational options. A tax deduction as proposed by the Back to School Education Tax Relief Act of 2002, would not guarantee a family that their child would be accepted into a private school - that decision still rests with the private schools. Private schools, unlike public schools, can decide whether to accept or deny a child's application to their school. Private schools can reject students with disabilities, those with limited-English proficiency, and other special-needs students.

The undersigned groups urge you to support public education by opposing the Back to School Education Tax Relief Act of 2002.

Sincerely,

American Association of School Administrators
American Association of University Women
American Civil Liberties Union
American Federation State, County and Municipal Employees
American Federation of Teachers
American Humanist Association
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Religious Liberty
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Anti-Defamation League
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Association of Educational Service Agencies
Council of Chief State School Officers
Council of the Great City Schools
General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
International Reading Association
International Union, United Auto Workers (UAW)
National Alliance of Black School Educators
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of State Boards of Education
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
National Council of Jewish Women
National Education Association
National PTA
National Rural Education Association
National School Boards Association
New York City Board of Education
New York State Education Department
People for the American Way
School Social Work Association of America
Service Employees International Union
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
Women of Reform Judaism

Coalition Statements