President Bush on Thursday said a District program that spends public funds on private, religious schools should serve as a national model for saving inner-city schools.
“America’s inner-city faith-based schools are closing at an alarming rate,” Bush said at the opening of an education summit at the Ronald Reagan Building. “It’s in the country’s interest to get beyond the debate of public-private, to recognize this is a critical national asset.”
Bush said that taxpayers are already funding religious entities that provide social services such as programs to combat drug and alcohol dependency. He said the government has long provided funds to religious colleges and universities.
“Why don’t we use the same philosophy to provide federal funds to help inner-city families find greater choices in educating their children?” Bush asked, drawing applause from summit participants. “There is a precedent for this called the D.C. Choice Incentive Act.”
The law created scholarships that have helped send 2,600 poor children to religious schools in the District.
“One way to address the closings of schools is to empower parents to be able to send their children to those schools before they close,” Bush said.
The president also called on Congress to spend $300 million removing 75,000 low-income children from failing public schools nationwide and enrolling them in private, religious schools. Modeled after Pell grants for college students, Bush calls the proposal “Pell grants for kids.”
“Pell grants have helped low-income young adults pursue the dream of a college education,” Bush said. “And it is time to apply the same spirit to liberate poor children trapped in public schools that aren’t meeting expectations.”
