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Norton Releases Administration Statement Opposing D.C. Voucher Bill
March 29, 2011
Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kezmiché "Kim" Atterbury
p: (202) 225-8050
m: (202) 225-8143
Norton Releases Administration Statement Opposing D.C. Voucher Bill
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the Statement of Administration Policy from the Executive Office of the President today opposing House Speaker John Boehner’s voucher bill, H.R. 471, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, due on the House floor for a vote tomorrow. The Administration’s statement notes that the President has requested funds for the District’s public schools and public charter schools in his 2012 budget.
The Administration’s policy says it, “strongly opposes expanding the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and opening it to new students. Rigorous evaluation over several years demonstrates that the D.C. program has not yielded improved student achievement by its scholarship recipients compared to other students in D.C.”
The full statement follows.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
H.R. 471 - Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act
(Rep. Boehner, R-Ohio, and 50 cosponsors)
While the Administration appreciates that H.R. 471 would provide Federal support for improving public schools in the District of Columbia (D.C.), including expanding and improving high-quality D.C. public charter schools, the Administration opposes the creation or expansion of private school voucher programs that are authorized by this bill. The Federal Government should focus its attention and available resources on improving the quality of public schools for all students. Private school vouchers are not an effective way to improve student achievement. The Administration strongly opposes expanding the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and opening it to new students. Rigorous evaluation over several years demonstrates that the D.C. program has not yielded improved student achievement by its scholarship recipients compared to other students in D.C. While the President's FY 2012 Budget requests funding to improve D.C. public schools and expand high-quality public charter schools, the Administration opposes targeting resources to help a small number of individuals attend private schools rather than creating access to great public schools for every child.
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