WASHINGTON – The U.S. House has voted to reinstate a school voucher program for District of Columbia students.
Washington's voucher program subsidizes private school tuition for needy students and is the only such program to receive federal funds.
Congress began phasing it out in 2009, but Republican House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nuhr), who attended Catholic schools, introduced the bill to revive the program.
The bill would increase the annual subsidy to up to $12,000 per student. It would cost $300 million over five years, with $100 million going to the voucher program and the rest to D.C.'s public and charter schools.
The bill's prospects in the Senate are unclear. The Obama administration opposes vouchers but has not threatened a veto. Many D.C. officials oppose the program as an intrusion into local affairs.
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