Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 471, this legislation that would reauthorize the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. This program was created in 2004 with bipartisan support. This program has provided an educational lifeline and meaningful choices to thousands of District families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Everyone agrees now that our educational system is broken. As we work to craft targeted reforms, we must support existing education programs that improve student achievement. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program is one such initiative with a proven track record of success. Over the past 7 years, this program has helped more than 3,000 low- income children receive a high-quality education at the private school of their choice. The Department of Education's own research confirms the program's success in increasing graduation rates to more than 90 percent in the low-income population of students previously trapped in underperforming schools. {time} 1420 Additionally, this scholarship program has improved parental involvement in education. Four consecutive studies have shown parents of program participants are more engaged in their children's education and more satisfied with their academic progress than parents of public school students. The evidence is clear, Mr. Speaker.…”