Education Choice for the Obama Children

"Where will the Obama kids attend school in Washington? That question has been answered as it should be: by the new president and first lady.

There is no argument about that. Sasha and Malia will attend Sidwell Friends School — private, religious, and pricey — on average around $28,000 per year. In Chicago, they attended the University of Chicago Lab school, private also.

The more important question is: Will the parents of the approximately 2,000 D.C. kids who have been recipients since 2004 of congressionally provided voucher grants under the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) continue to have a choice of schools like the Obamas? If Obama, the Democrats, and Eleanor Holmes Norton (Delegate to Congress from D.C.), have their way, the answer will be "no."

Why? President Obama, Holmes, and the Democrats are allowing public school ideology to override the best interest of the OSP kids. They are so beholden to the D.C. public school monopoly that they will not allow the voucher program to continue once its extension has expired. This program provides possibly the only escape hatch for those trapped in failing D.C. public schools.

Contrast for a moment Sidwell with the D.C. public schools. Sidwell will teach Sasha and Malia well and effectively. Their educational progress is assured. On the other hand, test results from the D.C. public schools are among the worst in the country. Less than half of elementary and less than 40 percent of secondary students are proficient in math and reading. Delegate Norton claims this is due to under-funding of the public schools, but the evidence is to the contrary. Andrew Coulson, educational writer and analyst, calculates that when all sources of revenue for the D.C. schools are considered, the yearly per pupil cost is a whopping $24,600. The OSP program, if it were continued, would provide a mere $7,500 per student toward private or charter choices. Which program is actually "under-funded?" ...

...It is a bitter irony that these deserving students may be consigned to substandard instruction by the very president who promised to be the agent of change and the friend of the poor. ..."

excerpts from: John A. Sparks - OneNewsNow

for more information on Obama view on education see Obama Devotion to Public Education