Oppose Rhee-form? We don’t.

Carol Thetford / July 27, 2009

On Thursday, Senator Daniel Akaka [D-HI] convened an education sub-committee hearing on the state of reform in the D.C. public school system. D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee testified, and was met with both support and opposition. Over the past two years, she has brought sweeping reforms to the DCPS and has worked to reduce waste in the system. Despite her successes in a steep uphill battle, opponents of her reform efforts held signs reading “Oppose Rhee-form” outside of the committee hearing.

While Rhee’s star-power garnered considerable attention during the hearing, the future of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program – and the 1,700 children who have a safe and effective education because of it – was also brought to the forefront. Senator Voinovich [R-OH] discussed the scholarship program at the first available moment, stating that, “for the life of me, I can’t understand why that program can’t continue.” While Chancellor Rhee did not speak at length about the scholarship program, she did publicly offer her support for continuation of the three-sector approach – the provision which provides funding to the Opportunity Scholarship Program, D.C. charter schools, and additional funding for District public schools – stating, “The tri-sector approach needs to be maintained and continued into the future.” (more…)