School Privatization Threat to Public Education

WHEREAS, there is an increasing emergence of privatization of our nation's public schools and/or the establishment of charter schools within public school districts; and

WHEREAS, there are concerns that such privatization of school districts would pose a significant threat to the improvement, accountability, continued development and financial stability of an already underfunded public education system; and

WHEREAS, conversions of public schools to private entities would pose a detriment to the essential safeguards and protection of rights for students, parents, teachers and taxpaying citizens within public school districts; and

WHEREAS, in its 2010 Resolution on charter schools, the NAACP opposed the use of charter schools as the vanguard of education reform; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP opposed vouchers in 1978, 1982, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1997, and 2003 and in 1979 opposed tax benefit to segregated private schools; and

WHEREAS, privatization of public schools and /or the establishment of charter schools within public school districts diverts much needed funding for public education to private or charter schools, thereby further dismantling the viability of the public education system and limiting the number of children who would be afforded the opportunity of an adequate and effective education in contravention of the United States Supreme Court's 1954 landmark decision in Brown v Board of Education which declared that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal."

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People opposes the privatization of public schools and/or public subsidizing or funding of for-profit or charter schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP will continue to advocate against any state or Federal legislation which commits or diverts public funding, allows tax breaks, or establishes preferential advantages to for-profit, private and/or charter schools; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP calls for full funding and support of high quality free public education for all children.