Vouchers vs. D.C. public schools

I posted a few blogs regarding Obama's war on the D.C. voucher program, most likely because of its phenomenal success rate (the war, not my blogging). That success rate, of course, is to the benefit of the inner-city children that had been previously stuck in failing public schools (no surprise there). There's another angle to the story, though - cost. From the Cato-at-Liberty blog comes this today:

This week, education secretary Arne Duncan referred to DC public schools as a district with “more money than God.” Perhaps he was thinking of the $24,600 total per-pupil spending figure I reported last year in the Washington Post and on this blog. If so, he’s low-balling the number. With the invaluable help of my research assistant Elizabeth Li, I’ve just calculated the figure for the current school year. It is $28,813 per pupil.

According to the official study of the DC voucher program, the average voucher amount is less than $6,000. That is less than ONE QUARTER what DC is spending per pupil on education. And yet, academic achievement in the voucher program is at least as good as in the District schools, and voucher parents are much happier with the program than are public school parents.

In fact, since the average income of participating voucher families is about $23,000, DC is currently spending about as much per pupil on education as the vouchers plus the family income of the voucher recipients COMBINED.

There was a cost table also posted in the article. Just goes to show that throwing money at the problem makes the problem worse, not better. So one has to wonder why the Obama administration is targeting the program for termination. I mean - it's all about educating the children, right? Right??? Heck - even WaPo took the dems to carpet for targeting the program:

Democrats want to mandate that the District's unique school voucher program be reauthorized before more federal money can be allocated for it. It is a seemingly innocuous requirement. In truth it is an ill-disguised bid to kill a program that gives some poor parents a choice regarding where their children go to school. Many of the Democrats have never liked vouchers, and it seems they won't let fairness or the interests of low-income, minority children stand in the way of their politics. But it also seems they're too ashamed -- and with good reason -- to admit to what they're doing. (emphasis mine)

Being that this is tinfoil hat-wearing WaPo, it should tell you something. Here's the fear from the dems: since the program is a proven success at a fraction of the cost, it threatens the monopoly and thus the unions that line the pockets of the dems. In addition, they lose control of their indoctrination centers to ram left-wing ideology into young minds.

A cheap proposal was offered this morning in the freep (A Reasonable Plan on School Choice in MI) related to Michigan which would open up school choice and at the same time save the state money in a time of recession. A win-win, right? Wrong. The MEA won't go for it. nor will our current governor. The result? Kids in DPS are stuck in DPS, such as it is... Save the children!!!

HT: CG