Research

The D.C. public school system is in dreadful shape, but one bright spot is the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. Each year 1300 students are selected for scholarships to attend private schools. While larger reforms are needed, at least these few students are allowed to escape their failing schools.

But this year’s enrollees will be the last, because Obama’s 2011 budget eliminates funding for accepting any new students. A bipartisan group of senators are calling on Obama to save the program.

Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) haven't given up on their bid to save the federally funded voucher program that allows low-income families in the District to send their children to private schools. We would like to see them succeed, but it's clear that President Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress have already written the epilogue to this worthy program. Their disregard for how vouchers have helped children is so complete that it seems that the best chance, perhaps the only chance, for the program's survival is for local officials to step in.

Why would a worthy program, favored even by local Democrats, be getting the ax? Because it’s hated by the teachers’ unions. And after Obama has failed to deliver on their health care goals, the unions need something in return.