LIEBERMAN, COLLINS ANNOUNCE PLAN TO FIGHT FOR DC OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced their plans to fight for the successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), which is at risk of being phased out.  The President’s budget proposes that only those students currently in the program be funded and states that this will be the last federal request for OSP funding.  Under these circumstances, the current OSP administrator, the Washington Scholarship Fund, has said it will no longer administer the program.  The Senators will offer a 5-year reauthorization proposal as an amendment to legislation that is moving in the Senate and call on the President to change his position and support the OSP program. 

Senator Lieberman said: “At a time when our country is seeking ways to improve education results, we are unfortunately forced to fight to keep alive a program that has proven results, the Opportunity Scholarship Program.  That is a tragedy and an outrage.

“Senator Collins and I firmly believe that the OSP program should continue -- alongside efforts to improve the public schools -- as one part of an overall strategy to guarantee equal educational opportunities for all students.  For that reason, we will be offering our bi-partisan reauthorization proposal as an amendment to legislation that is moving in the Senate.

“The great civil rights struggle of our time is the struggle to reform our education system so that all of our children have a chance to achieve the American dream.  And the Opportunity Scholarship Program provides a vital opportunity for students in the District of Columbia to achieve the dream – and win their race to the top.  We hope that the Senate will act favorably on our amendment, and thus ensure that many underserved children in the District can continue to benefit from the kinds of educational opportunities that are always available to more affluent families, including many members of the House and Senate and the White House.”

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