Report Criticizes D.C. Voucher System

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- A tiny percentage of students in Washington's most troubled public schools applied for private school vouchers under the nation's first federally funded program, according to an Education Department report released Tuesday.

Only 79 applications -- 4 percent of the total -- came from 15 Washington schools designated as in need of improvement under the No Child Left Behind Act. All were awarded scholarships of up to $7,500 to pay tuition, fees and transportation expenses for nonpublic elementary or secondary schools in the current school year.

By contrast, 518 eligible applicants came from private schools. Only 43 percent of those students got vouchers. Of the 1,251 other public school students who applied, 85 percent were admitted into the program.

"Parents whose students are already (in private school) want public assistance to help their students remain there," said Roxanne Evans, spokeswoman for D.C. Public Schools. "That's one of the tragedies of vouchers -- that private school students use public money to fund private education."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-school-vouchers,0,816843.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[leftofcool]

1. So, can I get some money for a private pagan school education

for my grand daughters?????????????

Left of Cool

[MisterP]

2. but the DLC told me it was a resounding success! oh, who to trust