Tell the Conference Committee to protect Public Schools!

The final tax bill proposal takes away important tools for local governments to generate revenue through state and local tax deductions, and bars school districts from using cost-effective means to refinance debt. At a time when many education budgets are still below 2008 levels, this may put tremendous pressure on school board members and districts to unnecessarily find other ways to cover budget shortfalls and result in a “tax on a tax” for American households. Further, federal legislation that incentivizes investment in private and religious schools through tax advantages sends the wrong message and is an attack on public schools.

Please urge members of the Conference Committee to OPPOSE the inclusion of any provisions in a final tax reform bill that would: limit full deductibility of state and local taxes (SALT), expand 529 education savings accounts to cover tuition costs for private elementary and secondary schools, and eliminate important tax-exempt financing tools for municipal bonds that school districts rely on for school infrastructure repairs, modernization and new construction for safe and healthy learning environments.

Enter your information to contact Congress now!

Subject:

Please oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Dear Official,

As a constituent and public education advocate], I oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act or any legislative measure that would include vouchers, tax credits, and tax subsidies for use at non-public K-12 schools. In addition, I urge your strong support for a final tax reform bill that would strengthen state and local efforts to fund public education.
Specifically, it is critical that you reject provisions that would expand college savings accounts to pay for elementary and secondary private school tuition. Instead, I urge your strong support for public education and to encourage Congress to support the range of choices that are currently offered by our nation's public schools (such as magnet schools; science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics schools; public military academies; dual enrollment and blended learning; and international baccalaureate programs). 
In addition, I urge you to oppose the following provisions in the proposed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that would do the following:
• Limit full deductibility of state and local taxes used for education investments: State and local property, sales and income taxes support our students, their families and communities. I urge you to retain full deductibility of state and local taxes and to reject efforts to prevent taxpayers from fully deducting these payments on their federal income tax returns.
• Eliminate School Bond Programs and Advance Funding: As an important investment in school infrastructure for safe, healthy and innovative learning environments, I urge you to work with your colleagues to ensure that municipal bond programs (such as Qualified Zone Academy Bonds and Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds used for school building repairs and modernization) are included in final tax reform legislation. In addition, I urge your strong support to retain the current federal tax statute for advance refunding of bonds that provides local school districts and communities the ability to refinance municipal bonds at lower interest rates - this ability saves taxpayer funds.
• Exclude Teacher Tax Credits: Many of our teachers use their personal funds to augment resources for classroom instruction that benefit student achievement. I urge you to support the inclusion of the $500 above-the-line tax deduction proposed in the Senate bill. 
For schools and communities to thrive, they require education resources, not reductions, which is precisely what will occur if Congress passes a tax reform bill that fails to champion investments in our nation's public-school students, school leaders and local districts. 
As a result, I urge you to strongly oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and any other legislative measure that would undermine the ability of states and local communities to provide our nation's public-school students with a high-quality education.

Regards, Your Name

Send me emails about this campaign

Send me text messages about this campaign

Please encourage others to act by sharing on social media.