Brandon Valley School Board adopts resolution opposing education savings accounts and vouchers

The Brandon Valley School Board unanimously adopted a resolution opposing proposed education savings accounts and voucher programs for the 2025 legislative session.

The board’s superintendent read the resolution aloud at the meeting and recommended its adoption, saying the proposed education savings accounts “is simply a different title for a school voucher program.” The resolution lists concerns that voucher-style programs would use public taxpayer dollars to fund nonpublic schools with less transparency and accountability, could admit students selectively, and would divert funds from public schools amid constrained state revenues.

The resolution text, as read at the meeting, cites research that school voucher programs “consistently fail to improve academic outcomes,” warns that a new voucher program could grow beyond its initial funding, and says that growth would be “damaging to the future of our public school system, students and communities.” A motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded; the board voted in favor with no recorded opposition.

Board members did not record a roll-call vote with individual tallies in the transcript; the meeting record shows the motion passed after the chair asked, “All of those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion passes.”

Superintendent Larson noted the legislative session opens tomorrow and reminded board members they would be working with legislators through the session as the board monitors education-related proposals that may affect district negotiations and budgeting.

The resolution directs the district’s elected board to oppose the voucher proposal during the 2025 legislative session and asks board members and the community to make their views known to legislators.