ACEI Statement on School Voucher Decision

Olney, MD— In response to the United States Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that Cleveland's school voucher program is constitutional, the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) issues the following statement:

While families should have choices for their children's education, the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) does not support school vouchers, arguing that students would be better served by increased efforts to improve the nation's struggling public school system. The association believes school vouchers divert taxpayers' funds to private schools at the expense of public schools.

"With the implementation of a voucher system, funds that could and should be directed toward quality teacher preparation and improved salaries and working conditions in public schools (including smaller class sizes), are instead being diverted to private schools. It is through the betterment of public education that we can best meet the needs of all children," says Gerald Odland, Executive Director, ACEI. "We cannot endorse the Justices' decision in this case."

The Association for Childhood Education International's primary purpose is to promote the inherent rights, education, and well-being of children in the home, school, and community. ACEI publishes the award-winning publication Childhood Education as well as the Journal of Research in Childhood Education. For more information, visit our web site at www.acei.org.