U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today issued the following statement on the passage of D.C. school-choice legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week and on the impending Senate action:

"I want to applaud Reps. Tom Davis, John Boehner, and Rodney Frelinghuysen and all of their colleagues who voted for this historic legislation that will put the needs of Washington, D.C.'s children ahead of the system -- a system that all too often robs children of a bright and hopeful future.

"If we want schools to change, to become more productive, to become more efficient and more effective, then we must promote and nurture school creativity and innovation. By shielding schools from market forces, we are preserving a status quo. We need to do something bold to shake up the system. And this vote moves us in that direction.

"A child should not have his educational circumstances limited by his parent's income, the color of his skin, or the dialect of his speech. It's just not fair to use the power of government to chain a child to a school that is not serving her well. Disadvantaged parents should have the same right to make choices for their children as other parents have.

"I call on the Senate to follow the example of their colleagues in the House who voted to allow needy parents in the District of Columbia to select the school that is best for their children. It's the right thing to do."

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