U.S. Education Secretary Trumpets Bicameral School Choice Bill
by Jim Brown
July 24, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The U.S. Secretary of Education is promoting legislation that would provide vouchers to low-income families with children in failing public schools, giving the children of these families the financial means to attend private schools or to receive other educational services. The legislation introduced by Republicans in both houses of Congress would provide children in poorly-performing schools with funds to attend the private school of their families' choice or to get money for additional tutoring. U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says poor families deserve the same choices wealthy families have.
"Sixty-two percent of Americans make choices about the communities they live in because of the quality of schools," Spellings notes. However, she points out, that option "frequently is reserved to us who can afford to make those choices. But for those who can't, it's unfair and not right for them to be trapped in schools that don't perform."
This bicameral school choice plan, dubbed the "America's Opportunity Scholarship for Kids Act," is designed to rescue students in public schools that have failed to meet their academic progress goals for at least five years straight. Although efforts have been made to hold schools more accountable for students' academic achievement, the Secretary of Education asserts that "accountability is hollow without real options for kids."
Under the America's Opportunity Scholarship for Kids Act, Spellings notes, "States could either seek up to $4,000 dollars in funding for students to attend private schools or up to $3,000 for students to participate in additional supplemental services."
The school choice plan has already drawn sharp criticism from liberal advocacy groups and teachers unions. However, supporters of the initiative say it would provide better opportunities to an estimated 23,000 students and would demonstrate the benefits of "student-centered" education reform.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
