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Congress Brings School Choice to Children of DC
CER Press Release
January 22,2004
With only sixteen percent of DC school children reading and able to do arithmetic at levels expected for their grade, Congress has created more opportunities for children to get a better education by passing its annual appropriations bill for the District of Columbia. That spending bill, included in an omnibus spending bill that funds continuation of more than 11 agencies and programs, provides for scholarship of up to $7,500 for as many as 1,700 disadvantaged DC school children, and provides the same funding for children attending both DC-based charter and traditional public schools.
The last time Congress passed a similar bill was in 1998, when a plan that enjoyed bi-partisan support was vetoed by then President Clinton. The Bush Administration has backed this plan, which was initiated by District Mayor Anthony Williams, City Councilman Kevin Chavous and School Board President Peggy Cooper-Cafritz, who have worked to advance the plan.
These local leaders were part of an often-contentious debate, which earned the support of most Republicans and many prominent Democrats, such as Senators Dianne Feinstein, Robert Byrd and Joe Lieberman.
During the last few weeks of the Congressional session, the bill’s opponents at the headquarters of the National Education Association, People for the American Way and others rallied around members of Congress demanding that they oppose the final measure. Having passed the House earlier this year and with majority support in the Senate, the education plan for the District was included in the final conference report for the appropriations bills.
The District will be the fifth jurisdiction to enact a school choice program that involves both public, charter and private schools. The others are in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Florida and Colorado.
A constitutional challenge is expected.
Said CER president Jeanne Allen, “There is no question that DC’s moms and dads want and need this program. This is the biggest education accomplishment in this city in twenty years and its leaders should be congratulated for being willing to stand up against enormous, establishment pressure to keep business as usual in the schools.”
For more background on what school choice means for the children of the District of Columbia, check out DC Reform Fast Facts.
See also:
Choice Will Save the Public School System, Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige to the Heritage Foundation, January 28, 2004
D.C. School Vouchers Win Final Approval, by Spencer S. Hsu and Justin Blum, Washington Post, January 23, 2004
School Vouchers for D.C., Jeanne Allen talks online with WashingtonPost.com, January 23, 2004
School Voucher Plan Awaits Signature, By Ben Feller, AP Education Writer, January 22, 2004
Voucher program approved for D.C., by George Archibald and Tarron Lively, The Washington Times, January 23, 2004
Mayor Williams Hails Passage of DC School Choice Bill; Senate Approval of Appropriations Act Ushers in New Era for District, Press Release, Office of the Mayor, January 22, 2004.
Boehner Hails Senate Passage of Bipartisan D.C. School Choice Legislation, Press Release, House Committee on Education & the Workforce, January 22, 2004.
Paige Applauds Senate Passage of D.C. Choice Bill, Press Release, US Department of Education, January 22, 2004.
Institute for Justice Hails Approval Of D.C. School Choice, Declares the D.C. School Choice Bill is Constitutional, Vows to Fight Any Legal Challenges, Press Releases, January 22, 2004.
Senate Gives D.C. School Choice Program Final Approval, A Voice for Choice, Children First America, January 22, 2004# # #
The Center for Education Reform is the leading authority for information on innovative reforms in education and works in states and communities across the country to advance the cause of educational excellence. October 2003 marked CER's 10th Anniversary in working to make schools better for all children. For more information, contact CER at (202) 822-9000 or send us email.
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