Voices for Public Education

Purpose and guiding beliefs

Led by Ernest A. Finney, Jr., retired Supreme Court chief justice, and Richard W. Riley, former U.S. secretary of education and SC governor, Voices For Public Education is a statewide coalition of African-American educational, business and service organizations who are joining together for the following purposes:

• to dispel and counter pro-voucher propaganda targeting African Americans in South Carolina;
• to defeat publicly-funded voucher proposals; and,
• to affirm long-held African-American support and commitment to public schools.

The coalition recognizes the need to close the achievement gaps of African-American students and believes the state must address this issue by focusing its resources and energies within the public schools and using proven, research-based programs.

Other guiding beliefs are:

• Public education is open and accountable to all.
• Public education is the great equalizer of the human race.
• Vouchers and tuition tax credits hurt public schools financially and only benefit those who are already enrolled in private schools.
• Public education is the foundation of our democracy.

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Steering committee members

• Rev. Joe Darby
• Sheryl Mack
• Steve Benjamin
• James Felder
• Mary L. Duckett
• Jeanie Brown-Burrows
• Jennifer Howard-Kelly
• Ike Williams, Sr.

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Organizations that support the Voices coalition

• South Carolina Alliance of Black Educators
• South Carolina Caucus of Black School Board Members
• Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina
• South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church Board of Church and Society
• Pastors Associated Successfully Together to Obey, Restore, and Serve (P.A.S.T.O.R.S) Incorporated

Click to sign-up as a Voices for Public Education Organization (Word document)

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Relevant articles (All documents in Microsoft Word file format)

• Why vouchers fail – Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial
• Voices raised against SC school vouchers –The State
• Utah’s vote raises bar on choice – Education Week
• Newsmaker: Overstock chief to bring voucher fight to SC – Associated Press
• Choice may not improve schools
• Fishy grassroots groups –The State
• Bethel AME not for vouchers – The State

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Research and coalition information (All documents in Microsoft Word file format)

• Voices informational flyer
• Claims vs. Truth handout
• Milwaukee voucher program research

Faith-based Leader Sign-up Initiative - an active list of faith0based leaders in South Carolina who are opposed to any voucher or tuition tax credit program that would drain public schools resources.

• Faith-based leaders current list
• Faith-based leaders sign-up form

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Special links

• Rev. Joe Darby statement
• Listen to: Justice Ernest Finney on the OnPoint with Cynthia Hardy radio show

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