Democrats for School Choice

The 21st Century is still young and we're now on our second new president and second new attempt at changing the tone in Washington. Once again, though, talk of a new era in political cooperation turned out to be a mere campaign slogan and not a preview of things to come.

But incredibly, even the problems of Democratic dissenters don't amount to a hill of beans to this one-party government.

In an opinion piece for the Washington Post, former Washington D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams made a compelling argument against terminating the city's 5-year-old school choice program. Williams, with former City Councilman Kevin Chavous, argued that the "Opportunity Scholarship" program is effective, lush with local support and should be on equal footing with programs that help students attend public universities.



First, Williams referenced studies from Georgetown University, the Department of Education and the University of Arkansas which "not only found overwhelming satisfaction among participating parents but that, through the process of choosing schools, these low-income parents have become strong educational consumers."

Second, Williams countered U.S. Rep. José E. Serrano's (D-N.Y.) claims that in trying to end the program he is helping the city escape something that was "imposed" on them by Republicans:

"As elected leaders from the District who painstakingly negotiated the terms of the three-sector strategy, including the Opportunity Scholarships, it is amusing to hear that it was 'foisted' on us. It certainly wasn’t foisted on the hundreds of parents who waited in long lines and made great sacrifices for the prospect of having their children attend good schools."

Williams continued by saying that current-D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and most of the City Council support keeping the Opportunity Scholarships.

Finally, Williams responded to arguments that the city, not the federal government, should fund the program by saying that "it makes no sense to run the Opportunity Scholarships with only city money while D.C. public and public charter schools enjoy such federal support."

But, as always, the most important part is the ending; and Williams appeals directly to President Barack Obama, asking him to remember his political beginnings:

"As a youth, Barack Obama benefited from educational scholarships. After college, he worked as a community organizer on behalf of low-income families in Chicago. Community organizer Obama would support those parents seeking better educational opportunities for their children. Community organizer Obama would embrace a program like the Opportunity Scholarships, which give the children of low-income parents a chance at the American dream — without having to wait five years for the local school reform plan to work."

To his credit, the few ... or make that the only ... times the president diverts from the Democratic Party talking points has been on the issue of education, expressing support for expanding charter schools and teacher performance pay.

President Obama may very well jump-in and dedicate a speech to this issue. But will he choose, after overcoming a lengthy bout with the decision-making-process, to say "I'm fired up and ready to go" or "I stick my neck out for nobody?"