Education Activists to Escalate Aggressive Push to Save the "D.C. 216"

216 Low-Income Students Were Offered Scholarships, Then Secretary Arne Duncan
Revoked Them; A Vigil Is Planned for Thursday, August 20 at DOE Headquarters
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
With time quickly running out for Education Secretary Arne Duncan to reverse his
decision revoking school choice options for 216 low-income D.C. children,
education activists are planning a full-scale escalation of peaceful protests
and advocacy ads aimed at changing the Secretary's mind. (www.SaveThe216.com)

Led by DC Parents for School Choice, DC Children First, and other local
organizations, the bipartisan effort will include radio advertisements,
newspaper spots, Internet ads, and a noontime Thursday vigil outside of the U.S.
Department of Education. The event will be held on Thursday, August 20 on the
public sidewalk at 400 Maryland Ave, SW beginning at Noon.

The "D.C. 216" are low-income children who were offered scholarships to attend
private schools as part of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP).
Despite money being allocated for these students, Secretary Duncan abruptly
cancelled the students' scholarships this spring, sending letters to the parents
of the 216 children.

"When I received that letter, it was like a slap in the face," said LaTasha
Bennett, a parent of two children--one who receives a scholarship and one who
had her scholarship revoked by Secretary Duncan. "I sincerely hope that
Secretary Duncan will restore the dreams and educational futures of my children
this week."

"Time is truly running out for Secretary Duncan to reverse his disastrous
decision and to save these 216 children," said Kevin Chavous, the former
Democratic D.C. Councilman who is leading the charge to save the D.C. 216.
"Scholarship money is already available for the 216 students and there is no law
or regulation preventing them from accessing these scholarships. Secretary
Duncan needs to show the nation that this Administration is serious about
reforming education."

A majority of D.C. Council Members have urged President Obama and Secretary
Duncan to save the D.C. 216, and 75 percent of District residents support the
program.

"Parents are growing increasingly concerned that the Administration won't stop
with eliminating the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, but that they'll
start rolling back other important education reforms," said Virginia Walden
Ford, executive director of DC Parents for School Choice. "It is time that
President Obama and Secretary Duncan sent a clear message that their rhetoric
about educational options and 'funding what works' matches political reality."

Bipartisan legislation--sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn), Sen. Susan
Collins (R-ME), and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)--was recently introduced to
reauthorize the program for five years.

For more information, visit www.SaveThe216.com.

Media Only:
for DC Parents for School Choice
Virginia Walden Ford, 202-832-3895
virginiawaldenford@gmail.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009