D.C. School Vouchers Have a Brighter Outlook in Congress

The Wall Street Journal ^ | October 19, 2009 | Robert Tomsho

[khnyny]

The District of Columbia's embattled school-voucher program, which lawmakers appeared to have killed earlier this year, looks like it could still survive.

Congress voted in March not to fund the program, which provides certificates to pay for recipients' private-school tuition, after the current school year. But after months of pro-voucher rallies, a television-advertising campaign and statements of support by local political leaders, backers say they are more confident about its prospects. Even some Democrats, many of whom have opposed voucher efforts, have been supportive.

At a congressional hearing last month, Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat and vocal critic of the program who heads the subcommittee that controls its funding, said he was open to supporting its continuation if certain changes were made. They include requiring voucher recipients to take the same achievement tests as public-school students.

The senator's comments were a "really positive sign," said Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a group that supports vouchers and charter schools -- public schools that can bypass many regulations that govern their traditional counterparts. "It's clear the momentum is coming our way," added Kevin Chavous, a former Washington city councilman who has appeared in television ads supporting the voucher plan, known as the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent, has introduced a bill that would reauthorize the voucher plan. His co-sponsors include Democratic Sens. Diane Feinstein of California and Robert Byrd of West Virginia. But issues such as testing still must be negotiated with Mr. Durbin. Any bill would also have to pass the House, where there has been far less discussion. Some congressional staffers say they doubt there will be final action on the program until next year.

[khnyny]

Also from the article:

"It also may force the Obama administration to weigh in. The administration supports charter schools but opposes vouchers."

Yeah, THAT makes sense./s (shakes head in disgust)

[I still care]

Meanwhile, the man is wealthy enough to keep his kids far away from any kind of public schooling.

It’s always amazing to me how people think he is “for the poor”.