An Open Letter in Support of the “D.C. School Choice 6”
Today, more than twenty five education and civil rights leaders released a jointly signed letter in support of the six school choice advocates who blocked the entrance of the U.S. Department of Education headquarters in a dramatic act of civil disobedience.
School Choice Virginia was proud join with so many other leaders from around the country in signing onto this letter in support of the decisive and dramatic actions taken by these education leaders. Their actions today gave a voice not only to the 216 children denied their scholarships this year from the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, but to all of our children in this country who need a voice in the fight to reform education.
The full text of the letter is included below and available online. To learn more visit http://saveschoolchoice.com.
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An Open Letter in Support of the “D.C. School Choice 6.”
Today, national education leaders took a decisive stand to protect one of America’s most successful education reform initiatives—the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. Their actions were strong and powerful, and we salute them for standing up for low-income children who have been deprived of educational opportunities.
Kevin P. Chavous, Virginia Walden Ford, Rev. Anthony Motley, Dr. Howard Fuller, Gerard Robinson, and Darrell Allison engaged in a dramatic act of civil disobedience by blocking the entrance of the U.S. Department of Education this morning.
Their only request was a public statement from President Obama or Secretary Duncan about why the Administration wants to eliminate the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and the Administration revoked the scholarships of 216 low-income District children.
America deserves answers to these questions. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program must continue, and President Obama has the power to lead on this issue.
Today’s actions send a clear message that D.C. residents are serious about protecting the wellbeing and educational futures of low-income children. President Obama and Secretary Duncan owe it to D.C. schoolchildren to face the cameras today and explain why their commitment to “fund what works, regardless of ideology” doesn’t apply to low-income D.C. school children.
We, the undersigned, applaud today’s protesters for taking extraordinary steps toward highlighting the plight of children in the District of Columbia and around the country.
Sincerely,
The Hon. Anthony A. Williams
Former Mayor, District of Columbia
The Hon. Marion Barry
Member, D.C. City Council
The Hon. Harry Thomas, Jr.
Member, D.C. City Council
The Hon. T. Willard Fair
President, Greater Miami Urban League
The Hon. Kenneth Blackwell
Senior Fellow, Family Research Council
The Hon. Eva Moskowitz
President, CEO Success Charter Network
The Hon. Chris Saxman & Ms. Whitney Duff
School Choice Virginia
The Hon. Lisa Graham Keegan
Former Arizona State Superintendent of Schools
Jeanne Allen
President, The Center for Education Reform
Chad Aldis
Executive Director, School Choice Ohio
Anthony J. Colón
Education Reform Activist
Maudine R. Cooper
President, Greater Washington Urban League
Vernard Gant
Association of Christian Schools International
Rabbi Yehiel Kalish
Agudath Israel of America
John F. Kirtley
Chairman, Florida School Choice Fund
Jimmy LaSalvia
Executive Director, GOProud, Inc.
Andy LeFevre
Executive Director, REACH Foundation
Carrie Lukas and Kate Pomeroy
Vice Presidents, Independent Women’s Forum
William J. Mellor
President, Institute for Justice
Susan Mitchell
President, School Choice Wisconsin
Vicki E. Murray, PhD
Project Director, Women for School Choice
Kate Nagle
Rhode Island Scholarship Alliance
Whitney Tilson
T2Partners and The Tilson Funds
George Vradenburg
President, Vradenburg Foundation
Alvin Williams
President & CEO, Black America’s PAC
Johnathan Williams
Founder, The Accelerated School
*Organization names/titles are for identification purposes; letter is signed by individuals.
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[...] yesterday’s events in DC, I didn’t have a chance to post this article in the Washington Times from Dan Lips at the [...]
[...] Yesterday, we told you about a dramatic stand taken in DC by several leaders in the school reform movement. We fully support the “DC School Choice 6″ for their actions to bring attention to not only the situation in DC, but the need for all kids in this country to have access to a high quality education that best meets their needs. [...]