Posted on 01/22/2004 4:24:20 PM PST by chance33_98
Education Leaders Council Praises Senate Passage of D.C. School Choice Legislation
1/22/04 6:01:00 PM
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To: National Desk
Contact: Kimberly Tulp of Education Leaders Council, (202) 261-2605; e-mail: kbt@educationleaders.org; Nicole Keating of FitzGerald Communications, 202-973-4788; e-mail: nkeating@fitzgerald.com
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Committed to education reform policies and programs that pave the way for all students to access high quality education, Education Leaders Council Board Chairman Jim Horne and CEO Lisa Graham Keegan today lauded Senate passage of the DC School Choice Legislation.
"Due to the unflagging efforts of not only members of Congress, but also local and national leaders with great courage and personal conviction - from President Bush to DC Mayor Anthony Williams, Councilmember Kevin Chavous, Kaleem Caire and Virginia Walden Ford - educational choice in the District of Columbia is no longer a privilege restricted to the wealthy," said Lisa Graham Keegan. "This legislation provides District residents with a new civil right - the right to rise above mediocrity, change a failing school system and provide all students access to a quality education."
"The sun will shine a little bit brighter for students in the District tomorrow. Enacting these new choice provisions -- along with additional education reforms included in the legislation -- will provide new hope and opportunities for families who, yesterday, knew no way out of a failing system," said Florida Commissioner Jim Horne.
The school choice initiative passed by the Senate and awaiting the President's signature targets those most in need of assistance, needy students trapped in the nation's most troubled public schools. Scholarships would be made available to children from households with qualified incomes. Priority will be given to students in schools identified as underachieving under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Under the DC school choice program, low-income students and families could access up to $7,500 annually to attend safer, better schools. If selected into the program, the $7,500 could cover tuition, fees and any transportation expenses to attend a private elementary or high school in the District of Columbia.
About ELC: ELC, a member-based organization comprised of policymakers, administrators, teachers and parents, advocates for a new day in education that focuses on making education work better students - not the system. ELC advances policies and programs that support academic accountability, teacher quality, school choice and educational technology. Based in Washington DC, ELC acts aggressively at the grassroots and national levels to overcome the status quo, break down barriers to change, and pave the way for all student to access and learn through quality education. For more information, please visit http://www.educationleaders.org.
To learn more about Education Leaders Council, please call (202) 261-2600 or visit our Web site at http://www.educationleaders.org.
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