Washington, DC – The White House has announced today that President Clinton will veto a bill that would allow school choice vouchers for DC students. Despite the President's veto message, there are numerous school voucher programs operating around the country, and they appear to work. Research from a joint project between the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and the Children's Educational Opportunity of America Foundation (CEO America) shows that there are currently 36 privately funded voucher programs and two tax-funded programs in operation around the country, educating more than 12,000 students. Among the findings:
- Low-income students with vouchers perform better on standardized tests.
- In many cases, public schools improve as the result of voucher programs because they are faced with competition.
- Vouchers allow low-income students to escape bad and unsafe schools.
- Parents of voucher students are pleased with the results.
Research also shows a growing demand for school choice vouchers – even in the District of Columbia. Last year, the nonprofit Washington Scholarship Fund put up $6 million for 1,000 scholarships to children from low-income families. More than 7,500 applied – about one-tenth of the entire student population.
To learn more about the NCPA's research in the area of school choice, or for comments on President Clinton's veto of the D.C. voucher program, contact Joan Kirby in the NCPA's Washington office at 202/220-3082 or Jil Hicks in the NCPA's Dallas office at 972/386-6272.
WHO:
NCPA experts on school choice
WHAT:
DC vouchers and other school choice reforms
WHEN:
Interviews available by appointment
WHERE:
To schedule and interview call
Joan Kirby at 202/628- 6671
or Jil Hicks at 972/386-6272