Initiative 25, Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress (LEAP) Program is a neo-voucher. A neo-voucher is any program by which the state – indirectly – diverts funds from its coffers or uses money that the state would otherwise collect in taxes, to subsidize private education options.  This educational voucher lacks accountability to taxpayers and can be given to organizations that discriminate against children and families.

If allowed to pass, the initiative will: 

Redirect public school funds from the State Land Trust (the State Land Trust was created to fund only public schools) to private institutions.

Create an agency within the Colorado Department of Education to administer the voucher program.

Redirect general fund dollars by sending tax dollars to the agency to fund the vouchers.

Demand resources from public schools to help with testing and data collection.

Further reduce funding to our already underfunded public schools.

Do not be fooled, this initiative is NOT revenue neutral when it comes to funding public schools.  Agency monies will not be impacted by the negative factor (budget stabilization factor) and #25 will negatively impact public school funding. 

Funding for public education in Colorado is inadequate. Because every public dollar set aside to support our underfunded public schools is critically important to maintaining the sustainability of those public  schools, every public dollar designated for public education should be spent only for public schools.