Is the new D.C. voucher program half full or half empty? Depends on where one turns for information. According to the Washington Post, "the D.C. voucher program did not receive enough applicants from public schools to fill all the slots available," which meant 500 slots went unfilled - even as eligible private school students who applied were turned away. But according to USA Today, "Demand for access to the nation's first federally funded school voucher program has proved overwhelming in the nation's capital, due in large part to parental frustration with its troubled public education system." The Washington Times adds that the Washington Scholarship Fund, the private outfit that runs the new voucher program, didn't work hard enough to fill the available slots "and should have been able to recruit more voucher applicants." All somewhat confusing. It's clear, though, that upwards of a thousand needy D.C. kids are going to get a better shot at a decent education. Had Congress moved earlier in the year, there would have been more school slots, more applicants, and a better chance of a large enough "control group" for a proper evaluation. Now we must probably view this as a pilot year and expect a full-size program in 2005-6. (Meanwhile, the District continues to founder in its quest for someone to lead its public-school system.)
"School voucher slots halved," by George Archibald, Washington Times, June 16, 2004
"D.C. school voucher slots outnumber applicants," by Justin Blum, Washington Post, June 10, 2004
"Mixed response to D.C. vouchers," Letters page, Washington Post, June 15, 2004
"Huge demand for vouchers in capital city," Associated Press, June 11, 2004