More Resources President's Remarks Secretary Testifies on School Choice Plan for D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today joined President Bush to highlight the administration's strong support for expanding educational options for parents, including a new school choice incentive fund that would provide scholarships to eligible elementary and secondary school students in Washington, D.C., as envisioned in legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Mayor Anthony Williams, D.C. Councilman Kevin Chavous, school board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz, parents, students and other local leaders were on hand for the event at the KIPP DC: KEY Academy in Washington, D.C.

"I want my second home to become a model of excellence so that when people...see the educational entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in D.C., they realize they can do the same in their own communities," President Bush said. "I'm going to request $75 million from the Congress for what we call a choice incentive fund. This will be basically scholarships for students to be able to use the money as they see fit, public or private."

Fifteen million dollars will be carved out for a school choice program in the District of Columbia, the president said, with scholarships of up to $7,500 for each eligible student.

"It is the beginning of an experiment that will show whether or not private school choice makes a difference in quality education in public schools," President Bush said. "I happen to believe it will."

The president added:

"The District of Columbia is setting a bright example of what is possible in education reform. And I'm here to praise the public school system of Washington, D.C., and for those who are working hard to make it better. I'm here to praise the elected officials of Washington, D.C., for your willingness to step out and to confront failure when you see it and to praise success when you see it, as well.

"And I'm here to say to the parents of Washington, D.C.: We care about your children. Each child matters. We believe every child can learn. We're going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations in the Nation's Capital and around the country, because we know a more hopeful America depends on this nation's capacity to educate each and every child."

Under the proposal, the U.S. Department of Education would make grants to support projects that provide low-income parents, particularly those who have children attending low-performing public schools, with the opportunity to transfer their children to higher-performing public and private schools, including charter schools. Fifteen million dollars would be reserved for the District of Columbia.

Secretary Paige last week testified in support of the D.C. School Choice Initiative before the House Committee on Government Reform. Paige appeared on a panel with Mayor Williams and Rep. Boehner to discuss school choice legislation that was introduced by Rep. Davis, the chairman of the committee.

"Choice is essential for authentic public school reform," Paige said. "Many parents in the district who can afford it send their children to some of the finest private schools in the nation that happen to be right here in the district. But most parents in the District don't have the luxury of choices. They get what they get.

"In my mind, this is one of the most grievous sins we can commit as a society -- to trap children in schools that are failing them and turn away like they don't count. In President Bush's book, they do count. Every child counts. I'm thrilled to join President Bush today to reaffirm our strong support for empowering more D.C. parents with more choices for their children."

Paige also thanked Mayor Anthony Williams for his commitment to providing greater choice to the families and children in the District and hailed other local leaders for their support and for standing up for the District's children.

"I also want to thank some really good friends of education here in the District -- Councilman Chavous and school board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz -- for working in partnership with us to help ensure that the parents of the District have options and choices in schools for their children," Paige said. "Your love for the children of the District is obvious. And I thank you for your courage and conviction in standing up for them."

The president's complete remarks are available online at: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030701-3.html

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