A bill that would bring back the school voucher program in D.C. is scheduled to be put to vote in the House today. Locally, the program has mixed support – Kwame Brown and Marion Barry support it, while Mayor Gray and a number of other council members are against it. (DCist, 3/30)
Nationally, the bill has strong Republican support (it is sponsored by Speaker of the House John Boehner). The Obama administration, however, issued a clear statement of opposition yesterday saying that there isn’t evidence that the program improves outcomes. President Obama did not threaten a presidential veto. (WaPo, 3/30)
The Washington Post editorial board has a very strongly worded response to the administration’s position which says,”The White House of course has a right to its own opinion, as wrongheaded as we believe it to be. It doesn’t have a right to make up facts.” The editorial points out the investigator who studied the vouchers program found that it “markedly improved important education outcomes for low-income inner-city students.” (WaPo, 3/30)
Hopefully politicians on both sides of aisle are staking their claims solely in the interest of students. A reduction to partisan politics would be a shameful one.
EDUCATION
- DCPS asks inspectors to review cheating charges (Examiner, 3/30)
HOMELESSNESS | Emails Show D.C. Struggling With Homeless Shelter Capacity (City Paper, 3/30)
WORKFORCE | Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker has created a $50 million economic development fund aimed at job creation in the county. Currently, 60% of county residents work elsewhere. (WaPo, 3/30)
COMMUNITY | George and Trish Vradenburg of the Vradenburg Foundation are the co-chairs of that 8th Annual National Alzheimer’s Gala. The event takes place a week from today and features David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame) as MC. Tickets and table sponsorships are available here.
ARTS | A new mapping tool called Art Around shows the location of art all over the District – including galleries, statues, architecture, murals, and even some graffiti. (City Paper, 3/30)
Speaking of graffiti, I watched the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop last weekend. I can’t tell if it is a brilliant hoax or a truly absurd story, but I highly recommend it.
