New York, NY, June 14, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has overwhelmingly reaffirmed its commitment to the fight for equal educational opportunity and at the same time rejected a proposal to change its long-standing opposition to school vouchers.

In a resolution adopted today, the League's National Executive Committee expressed concern over the current state of nation's public education system, observing that, for many reasons, "the current system . . . is failing to educate the nation's youth, particularly minority youth." 

However, the League's leadership also rejected vouchers as a solution, noting that voucher programs violate the separation of church and state by channeling taxpayer dollars to parochial schools.

"We continue to believe that 'equality of opportunity depends on equal educational opportunity,'" said Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "We are prepared to support proposals that will bring improvement to our schools if we believe they can be effective without running afoul of fundamental constitutional principles we hold dear."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.