Congress to Vote On School Voucher Program

House Speaker John Boehner sponsors D.C. School Choice Program -credit:AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Congress is expected to vote next week on whether to extend the D.C. School Choice Program. The program allows for low income families to use vouchers allowing their children to attend private schools.

Families from across the District of Columbia today called on Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to restore the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) and provide hope to thousands of low-income children. Since 2004, the program has helped over 3300 children.

The legislation, known as the SOAR Act, coming up for a vote, is sponsored by House Speaker John Boehner. Supporters of the bill feel that it will lead to higher graduation rates among low income children in the area, as well as improvements in public schools.

“We call on all Members of Congress to put the interests of children and families first and to vote ‘yes’ on Speaker Boehner’s legislation,” said Virginia Walden Ford, executive director of D.C. Parents for School Choice. “It is morally outrageous that President Obama, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, and special interests have waged a battle against a program that helps low-income children who live just blocks from the White House. Passing the SOAR Act will right this grievous wrong.”

There is data supporting the claims of the supporters of the legislation. A Department of Education study showed that 91 percent of students using the vouchers graduated from high school which is about 30 percent higher than rates in public schools.

SOURCE D.C. Parents for School Choice