U.S. Department of Education Stifles Opportunities in Nation’s Capital
CER Press Release
Washington, D.C.
October 23, 2012
The enrollment numbers for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) released today show a troubling drop in the number of students being served by the program (1,584 students in 2012-2013 compared to 1,615 in SY 2011-2012). The decrease in enrollment is directly tied to the Obama Administration’s mishandling of the application process.
“Last week, the President spoke of giving students better educational opportunities. Yet his Administration has created numerous roadblocks for children in the nation’s capital to access quality choices,” said Jeanne Allen, President of the Center for Education Reform.
Congress gave the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (D.C. Trust), the organization managing the federal program, an increase in program funds for up to 2,100 students. But US Department of Education (DOE) interference created uncertainty about the future of the program. For example:
• DOE failed to provide proper implementation guidance that would have permitted D.C. Trust to hold more application events.
• DOE set arbitrary deadlines for such meetings, for the evaluation and for the actual lottery, setting it at end the end of July rather than May, long after parents have made decisions about their child’s education. While D.C. Trust received nearly 1,500 new applications, only 319 were able to accept the scholarships.
• DOE prohibited D.C. Trust from taking any new applications after March 31, 2012. Parents who learned late about the program or found after spring testing that their child’s education was not meeting their needs are left with no options, which is at odds with the intent of the program.
“These kinds of stall and delay tactics, which reflect the Administration’s long-time opposition to the program, are simply unnecessary and unkind to the kids for whom this program was designed. Congress and the Administration agreed to continue the program despite that opposition. At that point, government was obligated to support the law,” added Allen.
Students participating in the DC OSP are posting graduation rates18 percent higher and are gaining 3.1 months of additional learning in reading than students in conventional public schools.
Research finds that the program enjoys strong parental satisfaction and support from the community.
“Yes, it’s a small program, but it is very popular. It is saving lives and helping children trapped in failing schools – a fate assigned them to by virtue of their zip code. President Obama knows the DC OSP is good. In fact, his daughters attend a school participating in the program.
“Today’s release on the DC OSP provides yet another example of bureaucracy at its best. It’s time to put politics aside and give all parents the power to make smart decisions about their children’s education,” Allen concluded.
