You may hear that school choice is an issue with only supporters from a single political party or of a single ideology. But as more school choice
programs are created and expanded, more Democrats than ever before are voting
in favor of these bills. In fact, when Governor Bobby Jindal signed an historic statewide expansion of the Student Scholarships for Excellence in Education program yesterday, nearly half
of the “yea” votes in the Senate were cast by Democrats and a dozen Democrats voted
for the legislation in the House.
Hare are some of the most prominent Democrats who support school choice:
Cory Booker: America’s mayor is not only a hero when it
comes to saving neighbors from fires, but he’s also a hero to Newark’s
children. A strong supporter of
education reform, this Mayor has teamed up with Republican Governor Chris
Christie to fight for the Opportunity Scholarship Act, a corporate scholarship
program that, if enacted, would allow the state’s most disadvantaged students
who attend the state’s poorest performing schools to have access to education
alternatives. He'll also be a keynote speaker at our annual National Policy Summit on May 3-4, 2012!
Michelle Rhee: Former chancellor of D.C. public schools,
Michelle Rhee is founder of StudentsFirst, which does just what it sounds like:
puts students first. Rhee is a strong
supporter of charter schools and private school choice. In fact, Rhee spoke in support of the D.C.
Opportunity Scholarship Program while heading up D.C. public schools. Speaking at the 2011 AFC Policy Summit, Rhee
said:
“I do not believe that my
job is to protect and defend and preserve a district that is doing a disservice
to children. I believe that my job is to make sure that every single child in
this city gets a great education. I am agnostic as to the delivery mechanism.”
Joel Klein: John Klein, former chancellor of New York
City public schools and now, the executive vice president of News Corp., has
been pushing strong education reforms in New York and nationally, with a
particular strong note on educational options.
A strong supporter of public school choice and charter schools, Klein
also supports giving parents the most options available, including through
voucher programs. Writing
in the New York Daily News in March,
Klein wrote:
“Public school choice, charter schools
and vouchers like the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships help to level the playing
field for families and encourage educators to think creatively about how to
best serve students and families. Coupled with necessary resources,
well-prepared educators, and strong curricula, I believe that choice has the
power to improve the overall quality of education we are providing to our
students.”
