Expansion of private-school tax credits advances in Senate
HARRISBURG (AP) — Legislation to substantially expand taxpayer support for private and religious schools is taking another step in Pennsylvania.
The Senate Education Committee approved the bill Wednesday over the protests of Democrats.
It’s sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai and passed the Republican-controlled House last month on a near-party line basis.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is critical of it, saying it boosts business tax credits at the expense of public school funding. But Turzai is expected to make it part of June’s budget negotiations for the fiscal year starting July 1.
It would nearly double the Educational Improvement Tax Credit to $210 million annually, add automatic 10% increases and lift the family income eligibility limit to $95,000.
The program reimburses corporations for donating to school groups, which primarily offer private school scholarships.
Comments
The way we do and fund education needs a total over hall, but the teachers union is too socked in, it'll never change, unless the good teachers out there decide to stop paying the extortion fee to the bully union. They no longer have to pay, thanks to Trump and we who want to Make America Great Again. Good teachers, stop pay due that support radical left demoncrats.
Of the $16K (avg) per year per student cost to ed. one child, the states obligation is only about $4.5K.
Remember, we are talking state here. Presently that state money (4.5) goes to the district in which the child lives (government school), leaving no choice in the matter. The suggestion is to pin the state money to the child, and where ever the Parents decide to send their child, that state money would follow. The state money is the voucher, and the money would follow the child to the school of choice... the parents choice. This includes private schools, even those forbidden Christian Schools. This would certainly promote competition. As it is, the state gives it all over to the government school district, giving the parent (the most local governing body of that student), no choice in where and how their child is educated. But they have a choice, they say, and they are correct, but the state money will still go to the local government school. How's that fair? The problem we now face? Too big to fail. The government schools siphon funding, are so big, and have weaseled there way politically in to our gubmint, that the gubmint screwall, is here to stay.
Oh... it could change, but the school is educating the next generation of voters, and we know that what is taught in, and embraced in the classroom today, will be embraced and forced upon us by government in the future, but that's another discussion for another time Joe.
Vouchers promote competition, and that's part of the argument for vouchers.
Let's stick with performance for now. When a school is not performing well and students leave utilizing their vouchers, it creates competition. Competition is what has always made America great. If those under-performing schools are wanting to get students back they will work harder and do more to make their school great.
Studies from Florida, indicate that the increased competitive pressure public schools faced following the introduction of Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program led to general improvements in their performance.
In socialistic societies, the government provides for its subjects from cradle to grave. That's what the government school desires, and already has. Privatization is needed.