In DC, parents have the right to choose from a number of school options. However, that right is being threatened by lawmakers.
The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (DC OSP) provides low-income families with an opportunity to send their children to any school of their choice, including private and religious schools.
About 1,700 students already receive this scholarship of $7,500. Another 200 families were supposed to get the scholarship this year, but lawmakers decided to take that away from them. Eventually they plan to take the scholarships away from those students already in the program.
Lawmakers don't think DC residents care about this program - but that's only because most people don't know that it exists.
About 100,000 DC residents live in poverty. DC has the highest child poverty rate in the country. Typically, low school performance is tied to poverty. But for the children in the DC OSP program, the future is changing.
Students in this program have seen major improvements in reading and math. More children in DC should be given this opportunity.
DC students can't wait any longer. They need to have better opportunities NOW!
