Skip to main content
Press Release Published: Mar 14, 2011

Supporting D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program would Demonstrate President’s Commitment to Education Reform

WASHINGTON D.C. – Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa today released the following statement about President Barack Obama’s call for Congress to Reform No Child Left Behind:

“The American people need to know if President Obama is prepared to stand against union pressure when they oppose innovative education programs and reforms that help our students. President Obama has the opportunity to do this by announcing his support for the bipartisan effort to restore a successful program that benefits students from families of modest means in our nation’s capital. Independent studies and reports from parents and students have confirmed the benefits of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which offers students an alternative to failing D.C. public schools. Teachers unions don’t like the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program – and other reforms that hold failing public education systems accountable – but teachers unions shouldn’t have a veto over effective reforms.”

Last week the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted to approve H.R. 471, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act. The legislation restores the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which was effectively killed in 2009 due to opposition from teachers unions and other political opponents. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) has introduced companion legislation (S. 206).

###