What We Saw at the DC School Voucher Rally

On May 6, 2009, concerned parents, students, and others gathered in Washington, D.C.'s Freedom Plaza. They came to voice support for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a school-voucher program authorized by Congress in 2004 (as the seat of the federal government, the District is overseen by Congress). The program gives 1,700 students up to $7,500 to attend whatever school their parents choose.

The program is wildly popular with parents and children—there are four applicants for every available slot—and a recent Department of Education study found that participants do significantly better than their public school peers.

Yet working with congressional Democrats and despite President Barack Obama's pledge to put politics and ideology aside in education, the Obama administration effectively killed the program through a backdoor legislative move. "[Education] Secretary [Arne] Duncan will use only one test in what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars," says the president. "It's not whether it's liberal or conservative, but whether it works."

Shortly after last week's rally, President Obama said that he would allow students currently enrolled in the program to finish up through high school, but that no new students would be allowed to enter the program. Thus, a president who exercises school choice himself, has consigned thousands of low-income students to attend massively underperforming D.C. public schools.

For more on the voucher program, watch "President Barack Obama & the DC School Voucher Program" by going here: http://reason.tv/video/show/782.html

For more videos go to http://reason.tv

Category:

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[DoomHippie]

Yes, you can make the choice, but you STILL have to pay your Public Schools regardless of what you chose. They have a GARUNTEED Paycheck! With that, what is their incentive to give me a quality education?!

And I have no choice, because I CANNOT PAY FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS! With this system of Government Monopolism the Rich and ONLY the RICH have Choice!!

The Free Market lets US the people succeed and choose FREE of the shackels of rich socialists!

iViva el Mercando Libre!

[evan13579b]

ComradeMichael:

40 to 50 k is way too much for a bunch of babysitters who never actually have to prove themselves to any boss and who work ONLY 3/4TH OF THE YEAR.

[felpaluche]

He was so engrossed with his speech. He is emotional.

[Akumatrunigga]

@medic9five Thank you, it wasn't my intent to come at you but I just have a hard time thinking that vouchers are the magic fix for education. So many of these parents act like they can't go to a simple PTA to see what their child is up to. Sad imo, Getting some voucher for some random Catholic school isn't going to make your child any better

[medic9five]

@Akumatrunigga Never said No child left behind was a good idea....i think it was a HORRIBLE idea. However I agree ONE HUNDRED PERCENT with you on parent and teacher involvement, especially PARENT involvement that will equel GREAT results. Thank you for your comment. be safe and have a GREAT week

[Akumatrunigga]

@medic9five And "No Child Left Behind" was such a genius idea? More and more money is being dumped into the Black Hole which is "education" The simple formula for a child success: Parent Involvement + Teacher Involvement = Good Results. That is it.

[Akumatrunigga]

The entire country as a whole is "socialism with a smile"

[DoomHippie]

@v19d

It's not Obama. Republicans are socialist bastards as well.

[v19d]

@DoomHippie The Government sucks as long as Obama is in office for his lonneytone friends like looney George Soros and Fred Phelps of the infamous pot smoking Westboro.

[v19d]

That was just sad now Obama will be defeated in Office in 2012. I believe DC will for the first time vote for someone else?

[ace8842]

The Dems allegiance to unions and the monopoly in education is the real tragedy of what happens to inner city school students.  People keep voting for Dems to advance education in their schools and it does just the opposite.

[1973mazdarx4coupe]

the government has no right reallocating the wealth to poor people who should have no rights unless they vote for comrade glorious god obama and join a union. long live imperial god lor of all obama !