Dispelling the Myths

Myth: This is a government bailout of churches. That’s a violation of church and state – and it also puts the church at risk of government control.

Fact: Opportunity Scholarships go to families to use at the school that best fits their child’s needs. In fact, the checks for tuition are made out to the family, not the school. The family endorses the checks to pay for tuition. Families may and do choose from a variety of schools.

Giving families financial support for education regardless of the school they choose is nothing new. Just consider Pell Grants, the GI Bill or the DC Tuition Assistance Grant program (DC TAG) for college students. The only difference here is the age of the student.

Myth: Opportunity Scholarship schools don’t meet basic teaching standards or safety codes.

Fact: The Archdiocese of Washington supports efforts to ensure schools meet the educational needs of students. The archdiocese’s schools are accredited and have valid certificates of occupancy. Plus, all full-time teachers have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

Myth: This program doesn’t make a difference academically.

Fact: Annual studies, mandated by Congress, demonstrate annual academic growth. A U.S. Department of Education study released on April 3, 2009 showed statistically significant growth in reading by year 3. Study after study shows high parent satisfaction.

A full 86 percent of the students with Opportunity Scholarships would be in public schools that have failed to make adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind without them.

Also, a recent analysis by the Consortium of Catholic Academies shows students at these four schools, which serve some of the most financially-challenged communities of the District, reach or surpass proficiency by eighth grade. In other words, the longer students are with us, the better they do. These schools have been a part of the Opportunity Scholarship Program since its inception and enroll 352 Opportunity Scholarship students.

Myth: This program only helps a few kids so it doesn’t make sense to continue.

Fact: Every child counts. We need to help as many children succeed as we can. The 2008 valedictorian at Archbishop Carroll High School was an Opportunity Scholarship student; today she is in college. In fact, 20 of 21 OSP students who have graduated from Archbishop Carroll were accepted into college. The program also is popular, with four applications received for every scholarship given.

Myth: This program takes money from DC Public Schools.

Fact: Just the opposite. The scholarships are part of a three-sector initiative to strengthen education across the city: $14 million annually in federal funds for Opportunity Scholarships and $40 million in federal funds for public and public charter schools. Ending this program could be a fiscal nightmare for the already cash-strapped District. Not only will the city lose $54 million in education funding, but it will have to find another $25 million or more to educate the 1,700 children forced back into the DC public schools (based on the average DC public school cost per child). Plus, some schools that welcomed Opportunity Scholarship students could be at risk if their enrollments suddenly drop because current students lose scholarships and future students are denied them.

Myth: The archdiocese is using the program to make money.

Fact: The Opportunity Scholarship can be used towards tuition and some expenses, but it doesn’t cover the full cost of education in a Catholic school. (All of the schools are subsidized.) The gap is made up by the archdiocese and the city’s Catholic schools. Our interest in the program stems from our commitment to ensuring that all children, especially the underserved, have access to the education that best meets their needs. Catholic schools have served families of the District for over 200 years. We are committed to continuing this proud tradition, but cannot meet all of the need on our own.

Myth: The Opportunity Scholarship Program was something Congress forced on DC.

Fact: The city’s mayor, the chairperson of the DC Board of Education and members of the DC City Council were among the first and strongest advocates of Opportunity Scholarships (even testifying before Congress) because of their commitment to strengthening education across the city and the opportunity scholarships would bring to low-income children.  

Local support remains strong. Current and former city council members and former mayor Anthony Williams joined 2,000 children and parents at a May 6, 2009 rally for school choice. Petitions with over 7,400 signatures supporting the Opportunity Scholarships were delivered to Mayor Adrian Fenty's office by DC parents that same day.