Susan Davis: “I rise in support of school choice in the District of Columbia, but public school choice. The District of Columbia, as…”

“I rise in support of school choice in the District of Columbia, but public school choice. The District of Columbia, as we know and as Members have spoken to, has been a national leader in supporting charter schools to provide alternative choices for its families. In 1996, the D.C. Council passed the Public Charter Schools Act. That launched this decision as the best method to improve the public schools. Not only have they instituted a large number of charter schools for the District of Columbia enrollment, but they have also supervised these programs and they have closed those charter schools that have not been successful. I support the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) to back this local decision. If the majority wants to appropriate additional funding for children in D.C., let the sum be appropriated to increase funding for the charter schools, to expand that program so that charter schools can have the resources needed to provide adequate and safe facilities as well as the programs of choice. Mr. Chairman, I believe we must support D.C.'s children, but we can do that by continuing to support successful alternatives in the public school system.”