On the heels of Congress’ decision to kill the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program-and the Obama Administration’s silence about it-Illinois state senators approved a school voucher measure last week. Senate Bill 2494 sponsored by Rev. Sen. James Meeks, would create a pilot school voucher program for students in struggling Chicago public schools.
“This is a huge step forward for school choice, for Illinois, and, most important, for families in need of educational change,” said Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice. “Illinois lawmakers proved they have the courage to give Chicago’s residents an opportunity to escape poorly performing schools,”-something Education Secretary Arne Duncan seemed loathe to do during his tenure as Chicago schools chief.