It took a while, but an education bill of immediate importance to children in Washington, D.C., schools, and of symbolic importance to every child in the country, was passed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Friday morning. The measure will now head for consideration by the full House.

It took three days to come to a final vote because opponents are waging an all-out battle to destroy the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, a program that bolsters district public schools, charter schools, and enables more than 1,100 poor students annually the opportunity to attend private schools by choice.