Even though the average cost per student in the DC public school system is close to $24,000 a year, the vouchers are limited to no more than $7500. The rest of the money goes back into the system to improve public education for those who don't receive vouchers. That voucher is enough to pay tuition at a charter school and when combined with private scholarships it helps a lot of the students go to a first class private school. DC school costs are partially underwritten by the federal government, so we all have a stake in this program.
There are grassroots movements in virtually every major urban area where parents and community leaders — mostly of African-American or Hispanic heritage — are working to bring a program like this to their communities. They want to have more of a say in how education dollars are spent and to let competition drive improvement in education for everyone. They believe that the person most qualified to choose the best sort of school for an individual child is that child's parent.
A Senate hearing on Wednesday concluded that despite the fact that the DC voucher system was written out of the recently passed budget, it was a proven success and ought to be continued. President Obama reassured the families of the 1700 students currently using vouchers that he would see that they were at least able to keep attending their current schools until they graduate. He said that he would put aside politics and support solutions. Yet the teachers unions and the powerful education lobby are campaigning hard against this voucher system because they are afraid that it will set a precedent and encourage other school districts to open up educational alternatives for their students.
The DC voucher system is a success which we cannot afford to abandon. If you pay taxes and care about the future of America's youth, contact your Congressman and Senators and encourage them to support continued funding for the Opportunity Scholarship Program.
Article comments
1 - Heloise
Dave,
Isn't the case still open on this choice? I wouldn't bet that the vouchers will be discontinued. Arne Duncan is a supporter of charter schools, that's why this teacher does not like him and others in Chi town.
But vouchers are different from charter schools. I think the vouchers will probably stay since they are akin to choices for poor people such as charter schools.
Heloise
2 - Dave Nalle
Well, the federal funding was taken out of the budget when it passed and was signed by Obama. There's now a chance that with the push from DC activists and the Senate hearings that the funding may be passed as a supplemental item, but the forces arrayed against that are powerful and have a lot of influence. That's why I'm pushing so hard for it right now.
Dave
3 - Dave Nalle
To give credit where due, it looks like Obama might be open to saving this program. The problem is the union shills in Congress.
Dave
4 - Jeff Noel
From a double the numbers report from late 2008:
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The only indicator where DC stood at the national average was the percentage of high school graduates who entered
college: 60 percent of the high school graduates took that important step. DC doubled that number between 1999 and
2005, largely due to the work of the DC College Access Program (DC CAP) and other college access providers.
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I am just wondering where you got your college statistics from - I am a researcher and I have been unable to find specific numbers on the private school college access. Also wondering where you got 83% going to college for the public charter schools.