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Federal Legislators Look To Revive D.C. Voucher Program

January 21, 2011
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By Jessica Gould

Some federal legislators are preparing to introduce bills that would revive D.C.'s school voucher program. An aide to Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) says he is working on a bill to reauthorize the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.

The program allows children from low-income families to receive public funds to attend private and parochial schools. It began in 2004 as the first federally-funded voucher program.

But in 2009, Congress did not renew funding for the program, and it is scheduled to close once the current recipients graduate from high school.

Now, the Lieberman aide says, some legislators are looking to revive the program.

In the coming weeks, Lieberman is expected to introduce a reauthorization bill in the Senate, and, the aide says, he's working closely with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to introduce a similar bill in the House.

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