Jul 30, 2009 by Candi
Ignoring the Evidence
Much has been made in the media over the Obama administration’s latest education-reform initiative—“Race to the Top.”
At least $4 billion has been set aside for Race to the Top states who, among other things, agree to work toward adopting “common, internationally-benchmarked K-12 standards,” develop expansive data systems that track children’s academic performance, allow more charter schools, and support performance-based rewards for teachers. Some of those items are concerning. Some might be beneficial.
But what is most revealing is what the administration left off the list—school choice initiatives like the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program.
Shortly after the election, President Obama touted promises to “use only one test when deciding what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars: It’s not whether an idea is liberal or conservative, but whether it works.”
But his administration is ignoring evidence of what works right in his own backyard. For five years, impoverished students in the D.C. area competed for federally funded Opportunity Scholarships that allowed them to escape failing public schools and attend private schools of their choice. A study by the Education Department recently found that students who used the scholarships were nearly four months ahead of their public school peers in reading. The majority of families who’ve received the scholarships are African American and Hispanic.
So it’s no surprise that support for the program is widespread and cuts across party lines: A recent poll showed that more than seven out of 10 registered voters in D.C. support the program. And this June, several D.C. City Council members sent a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan urging him to let the program continue.
“We believe we simply cannot turn our backs on these families because doing so will deny their children the quality education they deserve. Indeed, last month, at a rally…several thousand families urged us to keep their children’s futures in mind and to support the continuation of this popular school choice program,” said the letter.
But the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress have ignored those pleas and are allowing the program to expire. Contrary to what was promised, the administration is putting politics ahead of kids.
