Utahns for Public Schools have joined forces with teachers of the year from around the state to launch an outreach effort urging Utahns to vote against what they call a "flawed voucher law."

State education leaders, lawmakers and educators made stops Wednesday in Salt Lake County and Weber County as part of a school bus tour that leaders say is the first leg of a new effort to defeat the controversial private school voucher program.

Organization leaders said the bus was rented from a private bus company and they wanted to make it clear they were not using public resources.

"Starting today we are on the move to inform Utah voters about why they should vote against Referendum 1 — starting today we are on the move to protect public schools," said Lisa Johnson, spokeswoman for Utahns for Public Schools. "We've planned robust communications and a grass-roots outreach campaign."

She said the group is also launching an advertising campaign statewide on both television and radio along with a new Web site that will provide ways for Utahns to get directly involved in fighting the voucher law.

Johnson said the group also has volunteers who are making almost daily appearances at community events — Kiwanis clubs, Rotary clubs, chambers of commerce and various other meetings — in their own communities.

Group leader also said they want to continue growth of their coalition. They announced that Voices for Utah Children and Utah County Citizens for Public Schools are the latest organizations to join.

"Utahns for Public Schools is proud to have every statewide member-based education organization or association as part of our coalition," Johnson said.

Teachers of the year in a number of districts will also be leading anti-voucher campaigns in their respective areas of the state.

On the other side of the issue, Parents for Choice in Education, the pro-voucher group, launched its campaign in late July and is focusing on a grass-roots efforts in hopes residents will vote in favor of the program.

The voucher law, which was approved by the Legislature this past spring, would provide Utah families with a private-school tuition voucher ranging from $500 to $3,000 per student based on the parents' income.

It also would appropriate $9.2 million for mitigation money to hold schools harmless for five years after a student leaves and goes to a private school.

But it doesn't sit well with some who say it's a bad idea to siphon public money into private schools.

In March Utahns for Public schools successfully gathered enough signatures for a referendum that would allow Utahns to decide whether they want a voucher program. As a result, the law is now on hold pending a Nov. 6 vote that will determine if the measure will stay on the books.

Kim Burningham, chairman of the State Board of Education and member of the coalition, said the voucher program would only benefit a few students, since 15 of Utah's 29 counties don't have any private schools.

Moreover, only families who had the means to come up with the remaining tuition could participate in the program.

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