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Government of the District of
Columbia
MAYOR WILLIAMS PRAISES SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL CHOICE IN THE DISTRICT(Washington, DC) The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the District of Columbia’s Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations bill, which includes a record $545 million in funding for the city. The legislation also includes $40 million for education reform. An amendment introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Mike DeWine will allow the District to launch a pilot program that will offer low-income parents choice in where to send their children to school. District public schools were awarded $13 million, and District public charter schools will receive $13 million. An additional $13 million was allocated for the pilot scholarship program. "I greatly appreciate the extraordinary effort on the part of Senator Dianne Feinstein – she stood up for students in the District," said Mayor Anthony A. Williams. "This initiative will complement the reforms that are already underway at our public schools and public charter schools." The DeWine-Feinstein amendment will provide scholarships of up to $7,500 to pay for tuition, fees and transportation to any private school in the District. Scholarships would go to children whose parents earn less than 185 percent of the poverty level ($34,040 for a family of four) and priority would be given to students in the District’s poorest performing schools. A full Senate vote is expected on the bill next week. |
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