When it comes to public education in the United States “progressives” are ruled by teachers unions. This means that nothing progressive ever happens. The only solution is to spend more money. In the District of Columbia spends around $28,000 per student every year. Yet they have some of the worst schools in the country. Some forward looking citizens are trying school vouchers in DC and things are looking good.
According to the official study of the DC voucher program, the average voucher amount is less than $6,000. That is less than ONE QUARTER what DC is spending per pupil on education. And yet, academic achievement in the voucher program is at least as good as in the District schools, and voucher parents are much happier with the program than are public school parents.
In fact, since the average income of participating voucher families is about $23,000, DC is currently spending about as much per pupil on education as the vouchers plus the family income of the voucher recipients COMBINED.
Well, they were looking good. Thanks to the Democrats in Congress funding for this program is about to be wiped out. It seems shocking that Congress would cut funding for anything, but it’s not surprising considering how powerful the teachers union is within the Democrat Party. I won’t hold my breath waiting for Obama to do anything about it. Why should he care? His children are in private schools.
isn’t there something unique about the funding for schools in d.c. that makes them a bad example for this discussion?