It’s hard to think of a place that needs school reform more than Washington, D.C. — or a place that seems less likely to get it. Washington’s school system, you’ll remember, is the one that doesn’t seem to know how many students it actually has, the system in which a quarter of school security guards recently were found to have criminal records. To say nothing of the education offered, or lack of it.
Enter Steve Gunderson, a Republican in his last term representing Wisconsin in the House. Gunderson intends, presently, to attach an amendment to the District’s congressional appropriation that would give students a chance to opt out of public education. Using a block of federal money, Gunderson’s plan would award scholarships to poor kids, allowing them to go to private schools. At the same time, the plan would force public schools to get their act together by making the city government the funding to enrollment.
Should the plan become law, suits are bound to be filed against it, and are likely to proceed quickly to the Supreme Court. Which is a good thing. Since the District has no state constitution, such a case will decide only one question: Does using public funds to send kids to private and religious schools violate the First Amendment? It would be a perfect — and needed — test case on school choice.
