Washington, D.C. Voucher Program
Congress created the Washington, D.C. voucher "pilot" program in 2004, making it the first federally funded school voucher program in history. About 1,900 students participate in the program, with vouchers worth up to $7,500 per student, at a cost to federal taxpayers of about $14 million a year. In June 2007, the U.S. Department of Education released the findings of a Congressionally mandated academic evaluation of the program, which revealed no significant differences in reading or math achievement between voucher students and Washington, D.C. public school students, even though the participating private schools are permitted to maintain their admissions standards. Also in 2007, a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report uncovered countless problems associated with the program's lack of public accountabilty, including federal tax money going to private schools that do not even charge tuition. The five-year pilot program is set to expire in 2008, unless Congress chooses to reauthorize it or continue funding it.
Resources
- Another Study Finds No Academic Impact from Vouchers
[HTML 2,471kb] - NSBA's Voucher Strategy Center reviews new report on D.C. voucher program [HTML 4,365kb]
Report finds federally funded program not meeting stated goals in year one.
- Schools Lose on Spending Bill Passage [HTML 1,995kb]
NSBA statement on passage of FY2004 Omnibus Spending Bill January 22, 2004
- NSBA Statement on U.S. House Vote on Vouchers [HTML 6,090kb]
Statement by Bryant, Exec Dir on House Voting on Voucher Program Sept 10
- District of Columbia Voters Strongly Oppose Vouchers - NSBA/Zogby Poll Shows [HTML 2,568kb]
A poll, commissioned by NSBA, shows strong opposition to vouchers by voters in the District of Columbia, and high expectations of public accountability requirements for any private school that takes taxpayer-funded vouchers.
- Future of DC school vouchers worries parents (Washington Times, 7-29-07)
- NSBA letter-to-editor published in Washington Post (6-30-07)
NSBA Executive Director Anne Bryant's letter-to-the-editor responding to a Washington Post editorial on the recent Washington, D.C. voucher program evaluation.
- Official evaluation of D.C. voucher program (U.S. Department of Education, June 2007)
Study finds no significant academic differences in reading or math between voucher students and public school peers after one school year.
- Senator drops plan to allow D.C. vouchers in Va., Md. schools (Washington Post, 7-15-05)
- Mayor opposes plan to allow voucher use outside D.C. (Washington Post, 7-12-05)
- Vouchers breathe new life into D.C. Catholic schools (Washington Post, 6-13-05)
- Group opposed to vouchers cites shortcomings (Washington Post, 2-8-05)
- Jazz concert among enticements for voucher program (Washington Post, 2-7-05)
- School voucher slots halved (Washington Times, June 16)
- D.C. School Vouchers Outnumber Applicants (Washington Post, June 11)
- Researchers See Opportunity in D.C. Vouchers (Education Week, 2-4-04)
NSBA comments included in article about first federally funded voucher program and evaluation
- D.C. Voucher Plan Draws Instant Fire (USA TODAY, 1-25-04)
Reaction to Congressional passage of omnibus, including D.C. voucher plan; includes NSBA comments.
- Amid Wrangling, House Approves D.C. Vouchers (Education Week, 9-17-03)
NOTE: Requires free registration with Education Week web site. The article includes comments from NSBA.