So I hear the federal government came really close to shutting down this past weekend. Bigger people than me can tell you whether the last-minute deal to avert a shutdown was in total a good deal or not. But I do know one aspect of the deal that is definitely praiseworthy: namely, that the SOAR Act reauthorizing and expanding the D.C. school voucher program was adopted.

How happy do you think I am? Bet you can only imagine. But giving myself an opportunity to restrain my childish exuberance, here is a roundup of encouraging, uplifting, and insightful reactions:

• The Eduwonk unpacks some of the politics and says to pay attention to how the program’s infrastructure is reassembled to serve student’s needs during the implementation process…
• Paul Peterson, writing at Education Next, reminds us that the political victory was made possible by the high-quality research in Patrick Wolf’s official evaluation of the D.C. voucher program — causing me to nod in approval…
• Lindsey Burke from the Heritage Foundation makes me smile, saying the adoption of the SOAR Act represents “a monumental win”…
• When Flypaper’s Chris Tessone calls it “a big win for school choice and all kids in DC,” I squirm with excitement and hold back a giddy laugh…
• Over at Jay Greene’s blog, Matthew Ladner describes the vote as part of a “voucher steamroller,” while Greg Forster ends up gleefully yelling, like I would do if I weren’t so self-controlled, but…

Uh-oh — that makes me want to holler REALLY loud: YIPPPEEEEEEE! (I tried to hold it in, I really did….)