School Vouchers,Washington Post, August 10, 2008
CONGRESS GAVE life to the D.C. school voucher
program by a one-vote margin in 2003, and ever since, the program's been on
life support. Each year, it fights for needed federal funds. Thankfully, it
looks as if it will survive another year. But the time has come for Congress to
stop playing political games and, instead, undertake a fair assessment of a
program that gives D.C. families a say in their children's education.
Last month, the Senate Appropriations Committee included $14
million in next year's federal budget for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship
Program. This would pay for two more years in which children from low-income
families will be able to attend private schools. As has become customary any
time Congress considers D.C. vouchers, opponents -- mainly teachers unions and
some Democratic allies -- pulled out all the stops in a bid to kill the
program. To their credit, Rep. José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), who chair
appropriations subcommittees, rebuffed efforts to dismantle the program.
Neither is a fan of federally funded vouchers, but each properly deferred to
the District's political leadership, which supports the program and the
additional money it brings in for public and charter schools.
The version of the bill fashioned by Mr. Durbin's
subcommittee insists that, before more money is appropriated, the program must
be reauthorized by Congress. Voucher critics cheered the development, figuring
that as long as Democrats control Congress, no such reauthorization would be
forthcoming -- or, for that matter, even attempted. But even as supporters of
D.C. vouchers, we find Mr. Durbin's suggestion perfectly reasonable. After all,
the program was approved as a pilot; it is right to study impacts and outcomes
before the program moves forward. That review, notwithstanding the animus of
some toward vouchers, should be fair and deliberative. Democratic leaders such
as Mr. Durbin, No. 2 in the Senate, having insisted on reauthorization, should
use their clout to ensure an impartial examination.
In such a process, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)
will need to step up to the plate. As a D.C. Council member five years ago, Mr. Fenty opposed the program; he supports it now, and he needs
to clearly explain his change of heart. To do so, he need only point out how
the nature of the debate has changed. Instead of a theoretical discussion about
the supposed evils of vouchers, there is tangible evidence of their success. It
was there in the Dirksen
Building during
deliberations of the Senate appropriators -- children whose lives have been
changed by their ability to go to a good school.
Congress should have a good reason before denying
this opportunity to others. It certainly ought not
disrupt the education of children now benefiting from the program. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/09/AR2008080901587.html?nav=rss_opinions