Voucher Program Puts D.C. Kids at Risk, Study Says

"We're not a government oversight agency," Cork said. "We report the characteristics of schools as they report them to us. Occasionally, a school might fill in the wrong blank. What we do take seriously is to match our families with the schools they choose and the learning environments that are best for their children."

Samara Yudof, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said the report could be revised before it becomes final. She also said it "presents an incomplete picture" of the program.

D.C. State Superintendent Deborah A. Gist said in a statement that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has designated her office to assume oversight of the program. Gist said she will assign staffers to the task.

"We will aggressively move to ensure that our students are adequately served," Gist said in a statement.

Victor Reinoso, deputy mayor for education, said yesterday that the administration is preparing a response to the draft report.

The report also says that the fund had high turnover and weak internal controls for handling the federal grant money. It attributed those issues to a rapid three-year expansion because of high parent demand.

Cork said yesterday that the nonprofit program has improved operations. One example cited was shifting from paper invoices to an electronic system.

A report in May from the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute showed that of 100 parents and students surveyed, most were satisfied with the program, and about 90 percent said they would remain at least another year.