School Choice Victory in the Senate

October 26, 2011

by Hill

ACE-PA, advocates for catholic education, Catholic Education Posts, catholic schools, educational improvement tax credit, EITC, school choice, vouchers

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Pennsylvania students and their families are one step closer to getting assistance in the exercise of their right to choose a school that they believe best meets their needs. Today the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 1, the Opportunity Scholarship Act, by a vote of 27-22. The measure will now be considered by the House of Representatives in the coming weeks. If your Senator voted yes (see list below), please click here to send a message of thanks!

Yesterday, the Senate Education Committee amended the proposed legislation to reflect Governor Tom Corbett’s plan to create a pilot program for school vouchers and increase the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

The proposed voucher program will be a pilot project, of sorts. The neediest students attending the worst performing public schools get the vouchers first. In the second year, every qualified student who lives in the geographic boundary of the failing schools can get a voucher, even if they are already attending a nonpublic school.

Senate Bill 1 lists 144 schools that will qualify for vouchers. The list includes elementary, middle and high schools that have persistently score in lowest 5% of statewide tests.

The income qualifications are based on a sliding scale. Families who income is at 130% of the federal poverty limit or less qualify for a voucher up to 100% of the state subsidy amount for their school. That amounts to about $29,000 a year for a family of four. Families above 130% but below 185% of the poverty limit can get a voucher worth 75% of the subsidy. A family of four at this level can earn up to $41,000 a year. Families can use the voucher to attend any school they choose – private, parochial or even another public school.

The average per pupil state subsidy is between $8,000 and $9,000; each school district is different. The maximum voucher would be based on the actual subsidy amount for the specific school the child attends. Vouchers cannot pay for any more than the actual amount of tuition charged. Under this formula, the voucher would adequately cover tuition at Catholic schools.

The school choice proposal also includes a significant increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program that provides scholarships to students no matter where they live. The income guidelines for EITC qualify middle class families too. And once vouchers are available, many of the lowest income students who get an EITC scholarship now will get a voucher, freeing up more EITC dollars for others. Senate Bill 1 would fund EITC at $100 million in the first two years, $125 million in the third year with scheduled increases in all future years.

Concerned citizens are encouraged to thank their state Senators who voted in favor of Senate Bill 1 and school choice. And to voice their support to their state Representatives by visiting, writing, faxing or emailing using the online tools of the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network. Go to pacatholic.org/schoolchoice to learn more and send your email message to your state legislators.

Send a message of thanks to these state Senators for voting in favor of Senate Bill 1 and school choice:

Allentown Diocese