Ominous Omnibus: Spending Bill Jeopardizes Opportunity Scholarships

Lindsey Burke / December 10, 2009

Yesterday, members of Congress released the text of their $446.8 billion spending measure – the Omnibus Appropriations bill – which will likely be enacted before December 18. To the dismay of low-income parents in the District of Columbia, the omnibus also contains language seriously jeopardizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program – despite the wishes of the D.C. City Council and other leaders, District residents, and most importantly, District families.

The omnibus language blocks new entrants to the Opportunity Scholarship program, stating explicitly that the funding can be used “only for scholarships to students who received scholarships in the 2009-2010 school year.” Prohibiting any new children from receiving scholarships means the program will necessarily be phased out in the next few years. This was certainly not the Christmas present D.C. families were hoping for. (more…)