Education Sec Defends the DC Voucher Progarm

Well all is not lost for the students in the DC Opportunity Scholarship program. Against the House Democrats, Arne Duncan, the education secretary, is defending the right of these children to stay in the school of their choice. “Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Wednesday that poor children getting vouchers to attend private schools in the District of Columbia should be allowed to stay there, putting the Obama administration at odds with Democrats trying to end the program.

Duncan opposes vouchers, he said in an interview with The Associated Press. But he said Washington is a special case, and kids already in private schools on the public dime should be allowed to continue.

“I don’t think it makes sense to take kids out of a school where they’re happy and safe and satisfied and learning,” Duncan told said. “I think those kids need to stay in their school.”