Commentary

Listen Mr. President! D.C. Residents Want School Vouchers

The residents of Washington D.C. know what the schools are really like. Unlike the President, their children have to actually attend many of D.C’.s lowest performing schools.

A recent review by D.C. Children First found that nine out of ten students who did not receive a school scholarship this year were assigned to failing public schools.

Therefore, it is not a huge surprise that D.C. residents have expressed support for the D.C. voucher program.

A new poll found that 75 percent of District residents support the city’s federally funded school voucher program. Widespread support for the program crossed party lines—with 74 percent of Democrats, 77 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of Independents backing the program—and extends across each of the District’s eight wards.

In addition, 56 percent of residents indicated that they believed that there should be more scholarships for low-income students, and 68 percent of residents oppose Congress’ effort to end the program.

Reason.tv looked at what the D.C. voucher program meant to local families here.