Save the Children—in Washington, D.C.

Karina Rollins / November 27, 2009

Speaking on education this past March, President Obama told Americans that he believes in only “one test when deciding what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars: It’s not whether an idea is liberal or conservative, but whether it works.”

OK, great! Here’s something that works: the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. It’s a federal initiative that is currently giving 1,715 extremely disadvantaged children a reprieve from the infamously awful and dangerous public schools in the nation’s capital. It’s supported by many local Democrats and Republicans.

Previously near-illiterate children now read and write above grade level, test scores are up, and parents and children are thrilled with the safe and calm learning environments in the private schools they were able to choose thanks to the scholarships.

Oh, and the $7,500 it costs to send a child to a private school for one year with the D.C. scholarship is less than half of what D.C. taxpayers have to shell out to keep that child trapped in a failing public school.

Naturally, the National Education Association fought the program tooth and nail—and Congress is now poised to phase out the scholarships. Some students who had been accepted even received letters revoking that acceptance. President Obama—who had pledged to support what works—has not lifted a finger to save a program that should be a no-brainer. (more…)