First lady rallies grads

The president has said he supports whatever works in education, but has drawn criticism for not doing more to sustain school vouchers in the District. Parents use the vouchers to send their children to the school of their choice, including private schools.

The Democrat-controlled Congress included a provision in a recent spending bill that would phase out the city’s voucher program - which provides $7,500 to each of about 1,700 low-income D.C. students - after 2010 unless lawmakers specifically reauthorize the program.

Also Wednesday, Mrs. Obama hosted former first lady Nancy Reagan, who was in Washington this week to pay tribute to her husband, President Ronald Reagan, who died in 2004.