So, there are some accountability questions here.

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

We want quality schools for our kids. That's the bottom line. And we'll do whatever we have to do to make sure that happens.

In my position, I'm not critical of other government leaders who have budget problems.

The struggle Catholic schools are having right now across the United States is that we cannot afford the cost of creating norm-referenced tests for our students, based on our standards.

If they don't, they won't be in the program.

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

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.

the reading impact of the DC voucher program is the largest achievement impact yet reported.

If KIPP came in tomorrow and said, 'We want to open a third charter school,' you wouldn't say, 'Wait a minute. We've got to try a new approach.'

Thank you for holding this hearing.

Well, I'm going to turn it over to my colleagues, here, but it appears, in District of Columbia here, we have different standards: standards for the public schools, standards for the charter schools, voluntary standards accepted by the…

So, when you testified... you provide--you were meticulous--that was in--I wrote it down, because we don't have your statement--but you said you were meticulous--detailed, and useful information.

I can understand that there could be some periods of time, here, for adjustment and reevaluation.

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

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…

And so, the question being asked in Chicago and other places, and I'm sure being asked by some here, is, what's the future of Catholic education----

We should use every means at our disposal to provide the best education possible to all children.

All who have been entrusted with the responsibility for the future of this program must vote to fully fund the legislation.

I think there should be fairness on both sides.

It's different. I understand.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I think we don't have the tools to measure performance at this point.

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