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Courageous Dems Back School Choice
Washington, DC
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Washington, D.C. (August 28, 2008) - The Alliance for School Choice today hailed Democratic supporters of school choice, hundreds of whom stood together at events this week in Denver to decry a failed style of politics that has confined children to underperforming schools and prevented parents from exercising meaningful options.
Several education reform events were timed in coordination with the Democratic National Convention in Denver. These events were organized by Democrats for Education Reform and the Colorado-based Alliance for Choice in Education, along with dozens of other groups.
The main headliner at the gatherings was Alliance for School Choice board member Corey Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey.
Other prominent supporters of school choice, including Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, also participated. Several attendees courageously questioned the tactics of teacher unions, asking why these organizations use money from teachers' salaries to fight vigorously against a broad range of education reforms—and reformers.
Education Week magazine heralded the events by declaring that a "New Generation of Democrats Embraces School Choice" The gatherings attracted significant attention in the online media, as well.
The public support of school choice by prominent Democrats—timed to coincide with their party's largest event—comes on the heels of legislative sessions in states across the country that saw broad bipartisan victories for school choice legislation.
Notably, 40 percent of Democratic lawmakers backed a sweeping increase in Florida's Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship (CTC) Program this year and the two primary sponsors of an opportunity scholarship program for New Orleans children were Democrat. Most recently, Democrats in New Jersey and Maryland have boldly introduced school choice legislation and vowed to carry it to passage.
Earlier this year, the Alliance for School Choice gave two of its inaugural leadership awards to Democrats. The State Executive of the Year Award was presented to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and the State Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Pennsylvania State Representative Dwight Evans of Philadelphia.
"School choice means different things to different people," said Charles Hokanson, Alliance for School Choice president. "What's important is that we're seeing a broad base of support for school choice of all varieties: vouchers, scholarships, tax credit programs, virtual schools, charters, magnet schools, and great public schools. This is a combination that truly works for America's working families, and it's a combination that is supported by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike"
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The Alliance for School Choice is the nation's largest organization promoting school vouchers and scholarship tax credit programs. Visit us online at www.allianceforschoolchoice.org.
Several education reform events were timed in coordination with the Democratic National Convention in Denver. These events were organized by Democrats for Education Reform and the Colorado-based Alliance for Choice in Education, along with dozens of other groups.
The main headliner at the gatherings was Alliance for School Choice board member Corey Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey.
Other prominent supporters of school choice, including Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, also participated. Several attendees courageously questioned the tactics of teacher unions, asking why these organizations use money from teachers' salaries to fight vigorously against a broad range of education reforms—and reformers.
Education Week magazine heralded the events by declaring that a "New Generation of Democrats Embraces School Choice" The gatherings attracted significant attention in the online media, as well.
The public support of school choice by prominent Democrats—timed to coincide with their party's largest event—comes on the heels of legislative sessions in states across the country that saw broad bipartisan victories for school choice legislation.
Notably, 40 percent of Democratic lawmakers backed a sweeping increase in Florida's Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship (CTC) Program this year and the two primary sponsors of an opportunity scholarship program for New Orleans children were Democrat. Most recently, Democrats in New Jersey and Maryland have boldly introduced school choice legislation and vowed to carry it to passage.
Earlier this year, the Alliance for School Choice gave two of its inaugural leadership awards to Democrats. The State Executive of the Year Award was presented to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and the State Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Pennsylvania State Representative Dwight Evans of Philadelphia.
"School choice means different things to different people," said Charles Hokanson, Alliance for School Choice president. "What's important is that we're seeing a broad base of support for school choice of all varieties: vouchers, scholarships, tax credit programs, virtual schools, charters, magnet schools, and great public schools. This is a combination that truly works for America's working families, and it's a combination that is supported by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike"
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The Alliance for School Choice is the nation's largest organization promoting school vouchers and scholarship tax credit programs. Visit us online at www.allianceforschoolchoice.org.
Andrew Campanella
Director of Communications and Marketing
Alliance for School Choice
Washington, DC
202-280-1985
202-280-1989
First Url: Alliance for School Choice
Second Url: Expert's personal Web site
