Dick Durbin

So you're saying, out of 59 schools that have participated in the program, 2 have been disqualified for financial reasons.

I believe in public education first. And I don't think we ought to walk away from our responsibility to public education.

Do you get together? Do the principals and teachers of charter schools come together to discuss results and best practices?

So, this one school that we had here that failed to provide a certificate of occupancy in 2007, what happened? You let it continue to operate?

So, there are some accountability questions here.

One of the reasons you stated in your letter, why you couldn't tell us about the number of students, was, the schools, and I quote you, 'were considering participation in the program expressed concern about the disclosure of the number of…

I don't believe that vouchers are the answer to our urban education problems.

Well, we're in a mess. We have five rollcalls, which will have us anchored on the floor for the next hour and a half.

What do you tell a parent about, for example, the Kuumba Learning Center?

We'll be back probably with some written questions.

But, there is a quadrant, or--I shouldn't say 'quadrant'--a cadre of these voucher schools really are going unaccounted for.

This dire situation demands our urgent attention, and I know that every one of us here is united toward the common goal, even if we may disagree about how to get here.

That isn't fair to the kids, nor to the taxpayers.

Sending your children to public schools is a better outcome, or a better choice.

Why shouldn't all low-income District residents, while they await the very promising, but likely years away reforms for D.C. public schools, get the same shot Ms. Williamson and her kids are getting through the OSP?

We ought to pay attention to the results of that congressionally mandated study.

Lawmakers Threaten D.C. Scholarships Despite Evidence of Benefits

Each dollar appropriated to the OSP program is a dollar well spent.

I'm pleased to convene this hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

There are good ones and bad ones. There are some very good ones, and not so good ones.

I'm not going to send any money to your program unless you can give me the basic information.

The DC voucher program has proven to be the most effective education policy evaluated by the Federal Government's official education research arm so far.

The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program is a lifeline for low-income families.

I just think you need to provide better access to information.

I think it's a great idea. I knew nothing about that, but I think it's a wonderful idea to ensure the safety of students.