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Bush Reintroduces School Voucher Plan
NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007
WASHINGTON -- President Bush is making another run at giving poor students private school vouchers, but the Democratic-controlled Congress appears ready to block that move.
The White House unveiled details Tuesday of the president's proposals for overhauling the No Child Left Behind law, which is up for renewal this year.
The administration's proposal calls for giving vouchers to students in schools that persistently fail to meet progress goals set by the federal law.
"This is not for every kid in America. This is for those kids who are trapped in the absolute worst schools that just don't seem to be capable, or willing, to make the changes necessary to serve those students well," White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joel Kaplan said Tuesday, prior to the president's State of the Union address.
The administration tried to include such a measure in the No Child Left Behind law when it was first signed into law five years ago. Democrats, then in the minority party, blocked the effort.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who became chairman of the Senate committee overseeing education when Democrats took over Congress this year, said he would work to keep vouchers out of the education law.
"We need new and creative ideas for helping our schools to improve and our students to succeed. Instead, the president has proposed more of the same," Kennedy said. "Once again, he proposes siphoning crucial resources from our public schools."
Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat who chairs the House committee overseeing education, called the voucher proposal unacceptable. "It didn't pass muster when Republicans controlled the Congress, and it certainly won't pass muster now that Democrats do," Miller said.
Jeanne Allen, president of the Washington-based Center for Education Reform, was briefed Tuesday by administration officials on the proposal, which she favors.
"I don't know whether it's going to be thrown on the proverbial ash heap like last time, but they do seem committed to pushing it, and I'm going to hold them to it," Allen said.
The No Child Left Behind law seeks to ensure that all children can read and do math at grade level by 2014, which has placed unprecedented demands on schools. They have been required to step up testing, raise teacher quality and place more attention on the achievements of minority children.
In addition to promoting vouchers, the administration is calling for other changes to the law. One would require states to publish a report card showcasing how students do on state tests compared to a rigorous national test. Such a move could put pressure on states to strengthen their assessments and standards.
The administration also wants to make tutoring more widely available.
I have a question: What the hell do Democrats have against helping the poor get a good education? Everybody and their mother knows that our public schools suck. I thought the Democrats were supposed to be for the little guy, but here they are siding with big government. I bet Ted Kennedy's kids went to the best private schools the old drunk could afford.
NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007
WASHINGTON -- President Bush is making another run at giving poor students private school vouchers, but the Democratic-controlled Congress appears ready to block that move.
The White House unveiled details Tuesday of the president's proposals for overhauling the No Child Left Behind law, which is up for renewal this year.
The administration's proposal calls for giving vouchers to students in schools that persistently fail to meet progress goals set by the federal law.
"This is not for every kid in America. This is for those kids who are trapped in the absolute worst schools that just don't seem to be capable, or willing, to make the changes necessary to serve those students well," White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joel Kaplan said Tuesday, prior to the president's State of the Union address.
The administration tried to include such a measure in the No Child Left Behind law when it was first signed into law five years ago. Democrats, then in the minority party, blocked the effort.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who became chairman of the Senate committee overseeing education when Democrats took over Congress this year, said he would work to keep vouchers out of the education law.
"We need new and creative ideas for helping our schools to improve and our students to succeed. Instead, the president has proposed more of the same," Kennedy said. "Once again, he proposes siphoning crucial resources from our public schools."
Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat who chairs the House committee overseeing education, called the voucher proposal unacceptable. "It didn't pass muster when Republicans controlled the Congress, and it certainly won't pass muster now that Democrats do," Miller said.
Jeanne Allen, president of the Washington-based Center for Education Reform, was briefed Tuesday by administration officials on the proposal, which she favors.
"I don't know whether it's going to be thrown on the proverbial ash heap like last time, but they do seem committed to pushing it, and I'm going to hold them to it," Allen said.
The No Child Left Behind law seeks to ensure that all children can read and do math at grade level by 2014, which has placed unprecedented demands on schools. They have been required to step up testing, raise teacher quality and place more attention on the achievements of minority children.
In addition to promoting vouchers, the administration is calling for other changes to the law. One would require states to publish a report card showcasing how students do on state tests compared to a rigorous national test. Such a move could put pressure on states to strengthen their assessments and standards.
The administration also wants to make tutoring more widely available.
I have a question: What the hell do Democrats have against helping the poor get a good education? Everybody and their mother knows that our public schools suck. I thought the Democrats were supposed to be for the little guy, but here they are siding with big government. I bet Ted Kennedy's kids went to the best private schools the old drunk could afford.
When have the Democrats EVER been for the little guy, or the black guy, or the pregnant woman??? The list goes on and on.