WASHINGTON, March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agudath Israel of America, a grassroots advocacy and social service organization representing Orthodox Jews across the nation, joins with other groups in calling upon the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). OSP is currently the only federally funded voucher system in the country.

Agudath Israel advocates on behalf of 250,000 children in private religious schools across the U.S. Since none of these schools operate within the District, these students -- and their families -- are ineligible to benefit from the program.

OSP faces extinction unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid allows a vote on a measure to continue it.  The measure is supported by a bipartisan coalition led by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and endorsed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and John Ensign (R- Nev.)

"We support the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program because we think every family should have the right and the resources to make decisions about the best way to educate their children.  Even though the students and schools we represent aren't affected by this program, it's important that we join with the families and students who are benefiting and who strongly want this program to continue. Achieving educational excellence for all children means finding better ways to invest the billions spent on education, and greater parental involvement, through vouchers, have been shown to be an effective reform tool," says Rabbi Abba Cohen, Director, Agudath Israel Washington Office.

The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences found the program has greatly improved the academic achievement of participating students, ensured their safety while at school, and maintained strong support among District residents.  To date the program has helped 3,300 low-income, primarily African American and Latino students gain access to private schools in D.C.

Other supporters of the program include the editorial board of The Washington Post and D.C. Parents for School Choice.

SOURCE Agudath Israel of America

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