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  • D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program

    Long Overdue Head Start Evaluation Shows No Lasting Benefit for Children

    After some prodding, yesterday the Obama administration released the long-overdue first grade evaluation of the federal Head Start program. As expected, the results show that the $7 billion per year program provides little benefit to children – and great expense to taxpayers. The evaluation, which was mandated by Congress during … More

    Education Sacrificed at the Altar of Political Expediency

    In today’s Washington Examiner, Barbara Hollingsworth writes about the injustice being committed to D.C. children by ending the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. Hollingsworth’s impassioned words get at the heart of the crisis: It’s virtually impossible to get rid of federal programs that don’t work, so it’s even more astounding that … More

    Friends and Foes of Educational Opportunity

    Proponents of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program and families currently in the program have reason to be frustrated over Congress setting the course toward its elimination. But as Amanda Carpenter reports in today’s Washington Times, they’ve also found a “strong ally” in the fight for school choice – Juan Williams … More

    Twelve Anti-Family Gifts from Congress

    As Congress wraps up its final business for the year, there are at least a dozen detrimental policies included in the omnibus spending bill recently signed into law by the President. Taken as a whole, these policies devalue human life, weaken civil society, and undermine the family. Unfortunately, these provisions … More

    Smart School Reforms Can Benefit African American Students

    Writing on Townhall.com, Dr. Walter Williams asks an important question: “What’s to be done about this tragic state of black education?” Williams highlights the shockingly low test scores of students in predominantly African American cities like Detroit, where only 3 percent of 4th grade students scored proficient on the NAEP … More

    School Choice Supporters Ask Reid to Show a Little Christmas Spirit

    Some members of Congress are trying to bring a little Christmas cheer back to District families fighting for the continuation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. Representative Burgess, along with co-sponsors Boehner, Kline, Frelinghuysen and Issa, introduced legislation to amend the Omnibus to remove language phasing-out the Opportunity Scholarship program. … More

    Will the Grinches Have a Change of Heart about the D.C. Voucher Program?

    In “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Dr. Suess teaches children that even the most cold-hearted among us can find good in their hearts, especially during the holidays. Despite a series of recent setbacks, hundreds of low-income kids in Washington, DC are holding out hope that the Grinches on Capitol Hill … More

    D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program in Critical Condition

    Today’s Washington Post editorial page draws attention to the plight of the embattled D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which is now in critical condition due to language contained in the omnibus bill. The 2010 spending bill effectively kills the successful program by prohibiting any new students from receiving scholarships. The Post … More

    House Leaders Vote to End D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program

    It’s turning out to be a lousy Christmas for D.C. children. Late last night, the House dealt a hefty blow to the future of school choice in the District of Columbia. House leadership passed an omnibus appropriations bill which includes language to phase-out the successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which … More

    Ominous Omnibus: Spending Bill Jeopardizes Opportunity Scholarships

    Yesterday, members of Congress released the text of their $446.8 billion spending measure – the Omnibus Appropriations bill – which will likely be enacted before December 18. To the dismay of low-income parents in the District of Columbia, the omnibus also contains language seriously jeopardizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program … More