Coverage of the “DC School Choice 6″
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.
The events in DC received some great press coverage.
Watch this great video from the House Republicans:
The Washington Times also has a good article with another wonderful video:
Voucher advocates face up to police
“You may not lock us up, but we’ll be back,” Mr. Chavous said. “We will make sure that we do everything in our power to give our children the education they deserve. I am disgusted by the fact that they can go to great lengths to stop or muzzle the voice of freedom.
“It is fundamentally wrong for this administration not to listen to the voices of citizens in this city.”
Fox News even ran a full piece on the action. In it, Secretary Duncan gives the same old song and dance about not just saving 1 or 2% of the students. Fine, Mr. Duncan- then give all students a choice and a chance and don’t teach even 1 or 2% that it is okay to lie by extending a chance at a better education only to take it away and send them back to unsafe and failing schools. You wouldn’t risk your own kids’ education in the DC public schools- why would you force that upon other families?
Some updates from this morning and the “DC 6″ (Updated)
We posted this morning that there were some exciting things taking place today on the school choice front.
We’ll share some of our own thoughts on this later, but we did want to share some of the news coming out of this event.
Ed is Watching has a great update: Thank the D.C. 6 for Taking a Stand for D.C. Scholarship Students. He writes:
While many eyes today were on Obama’s address to schoolchildren from Arlington, Va., which ended up being a lot less controversial than originally reported, a truly exciting education-related event was happening just a few miles away.
Leading advocates of school choice and opportunity for the neediest kids made a real stand in support of the D.C. 216 who had their private tuition scholarships revoked by the U.S. Department of Education. To make a strong public statement, they went beyond making speeches from a podium or talking to a news reporter.
You can read online the full press release issued following this morning’s standoff at the US Department of Education.
The Washington Post also shares a quick update.
These leaders took a stand this morning, fighting for the new civil rights issue of our time: education. We firmly believe that we can no longer sit idly by and allow special interests to limit us to an outdated educational model that is not working for too many families.
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Update: Wanted to share another great update from the Heritage Foundation’s Dan Lips over at National Review Online: Civil Disobedience for Educational Opportunity
He includes a great quotation from former DC Councilman Kevin Chavous:
“Each and every child is entitled to equal access to the American Dream. Each and every child is entitled to a high quality education. And it is shameful if we give them anything less. That is the last civil-rights challenge for our country. That is why I stand here. That’s why those of who are here before you dedicate our lives to this cause. That’s why you don’t have to arrest us, because we ain’t going nowhere.”
Vigil in DC for school choice
Been a busy day here, so I apologize for not blogging earlier.
Had a wonderful time joining Virginia Walden Ford, Kevin Chavous, DC Parents for School Choice and dozens of DC students and families for a vigil in support of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program this afternoon in front of the US Department of Education. Earlier this year, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan rescinded scholarships that had already been offered to 216 children for school this year. These parents, families and supporters were there to encourage Secretary Duncan and President Obama to do the right thing and give these kids their hope and their scholarships back.
These kids were awesome- and it was so great to hear them being excited about their schools and getting a good education. We had one mother come up to us, who was worried because she was a government employee, but her son had received a scholarship, and she was so excited showing us pictures of him. You could hear her pride for her son and all he had been able to achieve because he’d received a scholarship to go to a better school.
I’ll try and post some photos later if I have a chance- the kids had some awesome home-made signs voicing their support for the OSP- but check out some early coverage already available online.
From the Washington Post: D.C. Parents Demand School Vouchers at Protest (though I would hardly call it a protest, but I guess that’s a more exciting headline).
Rally for Education Reform
Last summer when we launched School Choice Virginia, we were honored to be joined at our announcement with Kevin Chavous, a noted education reformer who also serves as chairman of Democrats for Education Reform.
As a D.C. Councilman, Mr. Chavous chaired the city council’s education committee, and led the fight for greater school choice for D.C. families- including increasing the number of charter schools from zero to more than forty schools and 17,000 students in just six years.
Earlier this month, Mr. Chavous was joined by other education reform leaders from the Education Equality Project in rallying for education reform.
“It is time for our country to stand up for our children, Chavous said. “As great as we are, we still are failing our kids. Failing them miserably. When half of the children of color drop out of high school, we are failing our kids; when we offer fewer and fewer AP courses, we are failing our kids; when our world education rankings continue to slide, we are failing our kids; and when we remain committed to a one size fits all model of education service delivery, we are failing our kids. Yes, there are some very good schools in America that provide some children with an excellent education. But that is not good enough and we are still failing our kids.”
Read the full news release online.
In his own words: Kevin Chavous on School Choice
When we announced the launch of School Choice Virginia back in July, we were honored to be joined by Kevin Chavous-noted education reform leader, former DC Councilman and co-founder of Democrats for Education Reform (among other things!). Mr. Chavous has been an active advocate for education reform in DC and around the country.
Voices of School Choice gives students, parents and others a chance to share their personal story about the impact of educational choice on their own lives. Here, Mr. Chavous talks about how he got involved in the issue.
