The Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) is leading the charge to give more opportunities to Pennsylvania’s students to go to the school that best meets their needs. He is the prime sponsor of House Bill 250 which proposes to increase the amount of tax credits available under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program by $50 million (raising it to $175 million) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program by $25 million (raising it to $75 million).
The EITC and the OSTC programs have always achieved bipartisan support and have been acclaimed as two of the best educational programs Pennsylvania offers to students in both public and private schools.
The tax credit scholarships have been a Godsend for students seeking a Catholic or other private education in Pennsylvania. Every Catholic school in all corners of this great Commonwealth benefits from the EITC or OSTC programs.
Each year more than 40,000 families get a scholarship that permits the parents to send their children to a Catholic or another private school. It gives these families a true choice in the right educational path for their children.
Additionally, the program assists countless Pennsylvania students in traditional public schools. Educational Improvement Organizations direct a portion of the tax credits to support innovative educational programs that enhance the regular public school curriculum.
“Strengthening school choice opportunities, especially for those students who would not otherwise be able to attend a school of their choice, has been a priority for the General Assembly through both the EITC and OSTC programs,” wrote Speaker Turzai in his co-sponsorship memorandum. “While the General Assembly constantly seeks to improve academic outcomes for all children, the OSTC program provides critical educational opportunities for kids who desperately need the chance to succeed.”
Urge your state Representative to invest in success and support the expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs by voting YES on HB 250. Click here to send a message today.
