Dick Durbin

So, I went to these Catholic schools for 19 years. They don't claim me sometimes, based on my votes.

In fairness to the many students who are getting good educations through this program, we have got to tighten this up.

How do you ensure the fiscal solvency of the schools?

100 percent versus 79 percent.

I think there should be fairness on both sides.

Without objection, Senator Collins. The entire statement will be included.

Thank you, Senator Durbin, for engaging with us on these important matters.

I wish, when I went to school, I could grade myself. But, that isn't how it worked.

Thank you for holding this hearing.

I believe that Federal funding has helped improve education in the District of Columbia and leverage important reforms.

It's time for an honest appraisal. Have those resources made a difference? How do we know that?

I promise that we will reconvene. I apologize, on behalf of the subcommittee, for the inconvenience of bringing you all the way here.

I think you've made your position clear, and I won't dwell on it, other than tell you that we are now living in a world of accountability, under No Child Left Behind--and it's controversial--but, we are being told it'll be a different…

Since we are sending you millions of dollars in Federal funds, what rigors, what standards, are you setting for academic performance?

Yes. At the bottom of the page, here, I think----

As you described it, the oversight of these voucher schools is basically by your agency, as I understand it. Is that correct?

I mean, and why there would be an exception created for voucher schools, I don't know.

Even though the amendment was defeated when the program was created, we now generally agree it's a good idea.

I think we have a special responsibility, in Congress--since we have a special relationship with the District of Columbia--to account for the money spent and to ask if it's being spent well.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm sorry, you can't take the Federal money and then refuse to give us the information.

I don't understand how you can expect us to send Federal taxpayers' dollars to your program, and you refuse to cooperate with even the most basic information.

I cannot look those parents in the eye right now... and offer every single one of them a spot in a school that I think is a high-performing school.

What we've heard here is parents and students voting with their feet, and leaving the D.C. public schools.

A common test gives us a better standard norm to measure against.