A number of respected organizations ranging from the Black Alliance For Educational Options to Citizens Against Higher Taxes to the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association to Eagle Forum have added their endorsements to SB 1, the school choice bill winding its way through the Pennsylvania legislature.
It is expected that many of the school choice proponents who have been giving the bill a cold shoulder will come aboard as amendments to their liking are made when the bill gets to the State House as indicted by State Rep. Curt Schroder (R-155) during a March 6 debate at Independence Visitors Center in Philadelphia.
Hopefully, those in the House who care about children can make the state reimbursement follow every child regardless of income and residence.
Also it should be noted that changes made to the bill in the Senate Education Committee as reflected in Printer Number 721 aren’t likely to please the Choice-Yes/SB1-No crowd. The new limit for the tax credits under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program was lowered from $100 million to $92 million (the present limit is $75 million); the reimbursement to the school district for the pupil has been subtracted from the daily average revenue calculation for school districts, which will mean smaller scholarships; and “nonpublic school” has been defined to mean “nonprofit entity exempt from federal taxation.
Less controversial changes include expanding the eligibility for the scholarship in the second year of the phase-in all “low-income children who will reside within the attendance boundary of a persistently lowest achieving school during the 2012-2013 school year” rather than just those have already been enrolled in a non-public school.
Also a restriction has been added to prevent the recruiting of athletes.
Also a requirement that non-public schools make available its written polices upon request to those seeking enrollment has been added.
Also clarifications have been made about transportation reimbursement and how the scholarships can be used with other financial assistance to non-public schools.
Here is a list of the organizations whose endorsement of SB1 was announced March 22:
The American Council of Christian Churches, Pennsylvania Regionals
Advocates for Catholic Education in Pennsylvania (ACE-PA)
American Federation for Children (AFC)
American Grassroots Coalition
Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Western Pennsylvania
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Western Pennsylvania
Baptist Bible Fellowship of Pennsylvania
Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO)
Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS)
Center for Education Reform
Central and North Central Pennsylvania Fundamental Pastors Association
Children’s Jubilee Fund
Christian Family & Children’s Center
Christian Schools International
Citizens Against Higher Taxes
Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Foundation
Concerned Citizens of Western PA
Council on American Private Education – National
Eagle Forum
Faith First Education Assistance
52nd Street Business Association
52nd Street Community Development Corporation
Freedom Works
Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Area Independent Baptist Pastor’s Fellowship
Hebron Vision Human Resource Center
Interchurch Holiness Convention (Pennsylvania)
Keystone Christian Education Association
LaSalle Academy
Let Freedom Ring
Lincoln Institute
Orthodox Union
PA Family Institute
PA Manufacturers Association
Pastor’s Fellowship of North Eastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Pennsylvania Catholic Conference
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS)
Pennsylvania Council on American Private Education
Reach Foundation
Right To Work
Students First
Talk Magazine
The American Council of Christian Churches
The Foundation for Educational Choice
The Kitchen Table Patriots
Hat tip Bob Guzzardi.
Hey they’re finally catching on. I’ve wanted vouchers and school choice since the 1950’s when I saw the illiterate kids at Ben Franklin High in Philly getting sheepskins. I knew something was wrong way back then.
I wonder how many of these groups have actually looked at the bill or are they being convinced by others, who in some cases, are not representing the whole truth. Having spoken to a representative of a group (which surprised me that he had given is approval) he was totally oblivious to what was in the bill. This bill was written by democrats picked up by republicans dusted off and presented at their bill. SB1 is another entitlement program. Eligible for voucher = Year 1 -Low income students currently attending persistently lowest achieving schools only. Year 2 – All low income students residing within the attendance boundary of a persistently lowest achieving school. Year 3 – All low income students regardless of school. (IF IT IS THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE LOW INCOME CHILDREN GET VOUCHER TO GO WHEREVER THEY WISH. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION BUT INCOME) Low income is poverty level. Why would the schools not be good enough for poverty level students yet good enough for those barely above poverty level or middle income students. What about those parents who struggle and do without to remove their children from the public schools only to find that their taxes (money from state) being used to totally finance the education of another student in the same school. Private schools which participate must be “in full compliance with all federal and state laws”.
The end result of this bill as written is we remove some children from some schools and continue to finance failing schools. THIS BILL DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM!