The dinners have raised more than $6 million since 2003 — not enough to prevent some Catholic schools from closing and reopening as public charter schools.
Boehner’s increased clout has meant larger corporate donations, something that critics contend is an effort by wealthy special interests to gain more favor with the speaker.
(NIKKI KAHN/THE WASHINGTON POST) - House Speaker John Boehner’s (Ohio) actions renew a fight he lost two years ago, when opponents killed a voucher program over concerns that it robbed resources from public schools.
In 2009, when Boehner was minority leader, the dinner raised $72,000 from big corporate foundations. In October, on the verge of the GOP sweep that made Boehner the leader of the House, nearly $200,000 came in from corporations for the speaker in waiting’s favorite charity.
“The speaker makes decisions about public policy based entirely on what he believes is best for his constituents and the future of the United States,” Steel, Boehner’s spokesman, said.
Nathan Saunders, president of the Washington Teachers’ Union, said that even though the federal government is paying for the scholarships now, they will inevitably become a burden on the District budget.
“Eventually it will become an unfunded mandate,” Saunders said. “It will raise expectations among individuals that will not come to fruition.”
The scholarship program has long divided local leaders and continues to do so. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) opposes its continuation, as does Norton. But City Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown (D) supports it, as do former mayors Williams and Marion Barry (D).
Critics of the program say that studies have not shown much improvement in the performance of scholarship recipients versus public school students, although the overall record is mixed.
A “final report” on the program issued in June 2010 by the U.S. Education Department found “no conclusive evidence” that it raised test scores. But it also found that the scholarships “significantly improved students’ chances of graduating from high school” and that parents were largely satisfied with the program.
Saunders noted that the amount of money the opportunity scholarships provide — as much as $8,000 annually for elementary school students and $12,000 for high school, in the new bill — might be enough to pay tuition at Boehner’s beloved parochial schools, but not at the city’s elite private schools.
Saunders said he had no problem with Boehner taking an interest in D.C. schools. But instead of focusing on vouchers and a relatively small percentage of students, the union chief said, “I would love to see him throw all of his energy into the concept that a rising tide lifts all boats. Throw the money at the bottom . . . increasing the quality of education for all children.”
Staff writer T.W. Farnam contributed to this story.
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