D.C.’s successful school voucher system may be in jeopardy
The successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program may be in jeopardy because the demand is so high, it is dismaying the critics and some members of Congress are seeking to dismantle the program. The program allows for lower income families to send their child to a private or Catholic school. Some members claim that vouchers are unconstitutional while the Supreme Court, however, ruled otherwise years ago. This program was signed into law by President Bush four years ago, the program is the first to provide federally funded education vouchers to students. You know when they say federally funded, it’s already in trouble.
Participating students are from families that are at or below the poverty line. The average income of participating families is $22,736, only $2,000 above the poverty level for a family of four.
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES)study reported that nearly 90 percent of all students showed academic gains in reading. The IES also reported last year that there was an increase in math scores among the students. This program has helped the students gain the equivalent of two to four extra months of learning.
But unfortunately advocates of the public school systems fear that opportunity scholarships will succeed, not fail. They believe that allowing children to escape underperforming schools will hasten the decline of all public schools. I wouldn’t believe that to be true because it would force competition, it would only make public schools better. If Congress were to discontinue funding of this program, 86 percent of the students would be reassigned to schools that did not meet “adequate yearly progress” goals in reading and math.
The only problem that I have with this program is that it is funded by the federal government and somehow this thing will get really screwed up. Just like what is going on now, they are looking to cut spending on this program. And when government wants to cut something they say “too bad” and then you’re “F’d”.
There are cities in the country that do use the education voucher system but are privately funded. One of them is located in Pittsburgh, PA. It is called the Extra Mile Education Foundation and this program relies solely on contributions to fund the urban elementary schools it supports. And it is a highly successful program for those students who attend the schools.
Read the full story on saving the D.C. voucher system.
For more information on the Extra Mile Education Foundation. Link.
Related Posts
- Education vouchers
- Socialist Sweden has succeeded with a private education system
- Americans coming up with solutions for education
- California outlaws home schooling
- Teachers union spends more money for politics than it does on schools
Tags: congress, D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, Democrats, Extra Mile Education Foundation, Margaret Spellings, Pittsburgh PA, president bush, Republicans, supreme court, washington dc
Subscribe
Twitter
Loading ...
July 13th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
You mentioned you don’t think vouchers will have a negative impact on the public school system because it will spur competition and the public school system will rise to the challenge. I was wondering if you have data to support that or details about how boards of education come under any market pressure at all. My first instinct is to think the voucher system would distort the market and artificially expand the capacity of private schools. Does the program have some built in function to limit the number of participants? I mean other than the requirement that you be at the poverty line.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
That’s where the problem is. Obviously they have to limit a number of participants because there are 7500 applicants waiting to get in the schools. This is why it is bad that it is federally funded. In Pittsburgh, they have the Extra Mile Foundation which is solely based on contributions and donations. So, the students rely on the success of themselves and in turn people will donate money to keep them in this program.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I think the voucher system is in dangered
January 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I think the voucher system is in dangered very badly.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Thanks for the articles. I have learned a lot reading your site.