The Washington Times
New poll reflects D.C. voucher support
A new poll shows D.C. residents want school choice and reform, and that they overwhelmingly support the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.
Seventy-four percent of respondents to a poll commissioned by a coalition of groups said they favor or strongly favor the scholarship program, which aids poor families. That is the same number who favor charter schools. Moreover, support for the scholarships is higher - greater than 80 percent - for parents with school-age children.
"This poll just confirms what weve seen and heard from people across the city," former Mayor Anthony A. Williams, chairman and president of D.C. Children First, said yesterday. "Local politicians, Congress and the Obama administration need to take heed - this program is something our residents want."
The poll also queried respondents on ending the scholarship program, which allows parents to select a private school of their own choosing. Sixty-eight percent ppposed proposals to end the program, and 79 percent of parents opposed to ending the program.
The poll also showed that 61 percent of respondents said that the program should provide "as many scholarships as possible in order to meet demand."
"While Congress and the Obama administration are allowing fewer scholarships, this poll shows D.C. families want even more," said former D.C. Council member Kevin P. Chavous. "They need to wake up. This program needs to be continued and expanded, not shut down."
In addition to D.C. Children Frist, the poll results were released by the Alliance for School Choice, Black Alliance for Educational Options, Center for Education Reform, D.C. School Reform Now, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Friends of Choice in Urban Schools , Greater Washington Urban League and the Heritage Foundation.
More than 1,700 children received scholarships tduring the 2008-09 school year. But more than 200 who had anticipated in the program have lost out because the federal government is blocking new participants. The decision was made after the out-of-boundary process and after the enrollment deadline for a majority of charter schools, officials with Children First said in its press release.
Allowing the students who lost to enroll is an urgent first step with the new school just weeks away, supporters said.