Vol. 4, No. 26
July 3, 2002

* CHOICE: The Supreme Court's decision last Thursday has set off a tidal wave of activity, from state halls, to Congress, to association headquarters where plans to attack are being sharpened as we write. Here're just a few "greatest hits" from the past few days of choice activity in and around the U.S.:

*In State Halls: California, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas will be among the first states to see some legislative action built around the need for choices among children who have few. As the opponents are clearly making known, political obstacles still loom heavily. However, the elections in November will have much to do with new programs being implemented. Groups like the Black Alliance of Education Options and scores of local grassroots groups are building up their political clout to combat the negatives.

*In Congress: Congressman Dick Armey introduced a pilot program for Washington, DC that is similar to the one that passed both House and Senate in 1997, but it was vetoed by then-President Clinton. Meanwhile, Senator Joe Lieberman is back as a school choice supporter. Lieberman supported the DC program but had a difficult time squaring that support during the last presidential campaign. We're delighted to highlight his comments about the U.S. Supreme Court decision:

"I remain convinced that private school choice, while clearly not the solution to what ails our public schools, is a reform idea worth testing, particularly while we are waiting for the No Child Left Behind Act to take hold, and could be a temporary lifeline for poor students who would otherwise be trapped in chronically failing schools."

*From the White House: In a speech in Cleveland, OH that Secretary of Education Rod Paige called "ground-zero" for education reform, the President said:

"The people of Cleveland and the state of Ohio decided that one of the approaches they wanted to take was to encourage a voucher system to be implemented. The Supreme Court of the United States gave a great victory to parents and students throughout the nation by upholding the decisions made by local folks here in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It is a constructive approach to improving public education. We're interested in aiming toward excellence for every child. And the voucher system is a part of the strategy to achieve that here in Cleveland. One of my jobs is to make sure that we continue to insist upon reform, to take this court decision and encourage others to make the same decision at the local level."

Link here for more on what school choice supporters are saying about the Supreme Court ruling.

* UNIONS: NEA president Bob Chase's final act as President of the National Education Association will no doubt be to set in motion its strategy for convincing voters "that vouchers are a bad idea." This plan for action will be developed at the NEA's annual meeting that is convening in Dallas this week. Last week, the Supreme Court left no doubt whether or not policymakers can establish educational programs that allow parents to choose the school that best fits their child's needs, be it public or private. The NEA, who has joined in the legal challenge to Florida's statewide program offering students in failing schools options, will argue their case in the Florida courts next month. (Link here for more on what the BLOB is saying about the recent Supreme Court decision.)

* ACCOUNTABILITY: Where do all the children go who are already in bad schools, absent strong public schools to access or other choices? The Education Department Monday announced that students in 8,600 schools will have the option to attend higher performing schools in their district beginning with the 2002-2003 school year. The nearly 3.5 million students are in schools that have failed to progress in meeting state academic standards. There is some hope in that districts are required to provide access for these children to higher performing schools. But if Maryland is any example, such opportunities will not come easy. In Montgomery and Howard counties, for example, parents who had the right to opt for a different public school were discouraged and circumvented by school district communiqués. The lack of choices led these school systems to conclude that no one wants them. Trouble is, all too many people want choices but those providing them do not. Time will tell how these new avenues work. In the meantime, parents, schools and district officials can learn what the new laws say and require of them by checking out CER's recent guides on "What the New Law Means" to them. For more, go to our ESEA page.

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