Key Vote Alert - "YES" on DC School Choice

The Club for Growth urges members of the House to vote "YES" on the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (HR 471). We expect the bill to be considered today or later this week. This vote will be included in the Club for Growth's 2011 Congressional Scorecard.

Education, like any industry, should be subjected to vigorous competition to ensure the highest quality and innovation available. Allowing families the opportunity to send their kids to the school of their choice enables that outcome.

This bill would re-implement the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, allowing eligible students the ability to attend a private or public school of their choice rather than locking them into a public school that their family does not prefer or could be failing them. While this bill does not completely open up the K-12 education system to full competition in the District of Columbia, it moves it in the right direction. It fosters competition and weakens the teachers union, which has an incentive structure that isn't always aligned with the best interest of the children.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 112th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.