The U.S. Senate’s defeat yesterday of an amendment to the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 that would have continued the District of Columbia’s school voucher program elicited the following response from Rabbi Abba Cohen, director and counsel of Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office:
“It is unfortunate and deeply discouraging that the FY2009 Omnibus Spending bill effectively puts an end to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Act.”The Mayor wants the program; the parents want it as well. It has provided new hope and opportunity for disadvantaged children living in the nation’s capital, children who otherwise would be trapped in poorly performing schools and facing a dismal future that few in their position manage to escape.
“Most tragically, the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Act increased parental involvement in their children’s education. We in the Orthodox Jewish community know well from our own experience that such involvement is the key to both educational and social success.
“Congress has now abandoned this vital program. In doing so, it has abandoned Washington’s children and their hopes for a better future.”
{Elisha Ferber-Matzav.com Newscenter}
