There’s a program in D.C., but it’s run out of money for now.

A voucher is a certificate that gives you and your parents the ability to pay for you to attend a private school rather than a public school.  You may be able to get a government voucher to pay the tuition and fees to attend a private religious school if your district offers a voucher program, if you qualify for the program, and if it’s got enough money.

Several years ago the United States Congress established and funded a five-year experimental voucher program for students in the District of Columbia.  Called the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, it’s now in 2006 in its second year and is administered by the Washington Scholarship Fund. [1]  Eligible students must live in D.C. and have a low family income.  Those attending low-performing public schools have an extra advantage. The voucher is worth $7,500 and is accepted at over 60 private schools including religious schools.  (The voucher may not cover all expenses.) The program has about 1,700 students enrolled now and all its money is committed, so it is not taking any more applications for 2006-2007.  Check the program web site to see when it will again begin taking applications.

There is nothing similar in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County.

Spending public money to support religious education is very controversial.  In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld an Ohio program allowing public funds to be spent on vouchers to pay for attending religious schools, on grounds that the program was not for the purpose of supporting religion. [2]

[1] Details of the program are available at: http://www.dcscholarship.org/.  (Visited 7/17/06.) The office is at 1133 15th St., N.W., Suite 550, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-293-5560.

[2] Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639 (2002)(holding that Ohio voucher program, enacted for valid secular purpose of providing educational assistance to poor children in demonstrably failing public school system, did not violate Establishment Clause, even though majority of participating students had enrolled in religiously affiliated schools; program was neutral in all respects toward religion, and any direction of government aid to religious schools was result of individual recipients' independent private choices).