It is difficult to see where the objection to school choice lies. After all, isn’t it common sense that your taxes should pay for your child’s education, regardless of which school they attend? Why should failing schools be supported by your money? Consistently poor performance at a regular job results in termination. Why should the education system be any different?

     The Pennsylvania legislature is currently considering a landmark step forward in education: Senate Bill 1. Senate bill 1 is a bipartisan bill that supports a voucher program for qualified low income students in failing school districts. This bill would allow students who are currently experiencing academic success in the difficult setting of a failing school an opportunity to leave that school in favor of a better one, taking their tax money with them in the form of vouchers.

Despite the fierce opposition from powerful teachers’ unions, the school choice movement is growing across the nation. Most recently, Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) introduced the Opportunity Scholarship Act (SB 1405) that would expand educational options for children.

Today, at an event sponsored by the America’s Promise Alliance, Obama announced that more federal money will be granted to the states in order to improve their failing schools:President Barack Obama is offering $900 million in grants to states and school districts to turn around low-performing schools.

Come to the Hill for your lunch hour (and a half) tomorrow and support the Put Kids First Coalition in their fight to save the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.  The group has been tirelessly defending this successful government program (not an oxymoron) with rallies, demonstrations, office visits, and testimony at hearings for months since the scholarships was dealt a death blow in the Omnibus Spending bill earlier this spring.

Thanks so much to everyone who sent in a video for the contest. We had a number of fantastic entries. Below are the four finalists in no particular order.Please check them out and leave comments about your favorite. We'll announce the winners tomorrow.Thanks again for your participation and don't forget to be in D.C on Saturday! 

A bunch of us here at FreedomWorks are heading to a rally for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships.  It's at 1pm at the Freedom Plaza down the street.  The voucher program was cut out of an omnibus spending bill earlier this spring and was blogged about here. The tragedy and irony surrounding this decision abound - President Obama said that he would make decisions about education reform based on programs that work, the D.C.