Pennsylvania citizens! Watch out! There are phony “charter reform” bills under consideration in the Legislature! Don’t be fooled!
The “reform” bills were written by charter lobbyists.
The State Auditor said that Pennsylvania has the worst charter law in the nation. These bills will solidify the charter frauds in your state.
The deformers are getting bolder trying to move as much public money out of public schools before the public catches on. The people of the commonwealth need to clean out the corrupt members of the legislature. This is what I read on Keystone education.
” HB800: Pa. private school tax credit may get boost after two-day debate
WHYY By Katie Meyer, WITF May 8, 2019
The state House has passed a contentious proposal that would boost scholarships for private school students. The amount of money up for debate wasn’t huge by the Capitol’s standards. But lawmakers saw the bill as a symbol of the tension between funding public and private schools. The measure would increase funds for the Education Improvement Tax Credit by $100 million — nearly doubling the amount available —and include an automatic 10% increase if it’s all used. The money goes to businesses that donate to scholarships and similar programs for private school students. Floor debate stretched over two days. Opponents, like Luzerne County Democratic Representative Jim Carroll, said it’s unfair to put so much money toward private schools when the proposed increase for public schools is relatively small. “I’m hopeful the supporters of this proposal are equally supportive of additional funds beyond $200 million for basic education,” he said. “How about special ed?” The proposal would also increase the salary cap for recipients’ parents, from $85,000 to $95,000 annually. It’s sponsored by Republican House Speaker Mike Turzai, who argued it’s about school choice. “There’s only one monopolistic school system that should be allowed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?” he asked sarcastically. “Oh, there’s freedom.” The plan passed on a mostly party-line vote and now goes to the Senate.”
https://whyy.org/articles/pa-private-school-tax-credit-may-get-boost-after-two-day-debate/
Letter: ELC Opposes PA House Bill 800, Funding Private School Vouchers
Education Law Center Website
April 26, 2019 Democratic Chairman James R. Roebuck, Jr. House Education Committee 209 Irvis Office Building Harrisburg, PA 17120
“Dear Chairman Roebuck: As advocates for high-quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania, we write with grave concerns about House Bill 800, an ill-conceived funding plan for private school vouchers that would also benefit religious schools. The bill would provide a massive funding increase for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) this year, nearly doubling the current allocation for the program and automatically increasing annual funding by 10% each year thereafter. By increasing the business tax reductions that can be diverted to private/religious schools and lowering General Fund revenue available to support public education, the bill would take the Legislature further from its constitutional obligation to support and fund the Commonwealth’s public schools.
We advocate on behalf of the students most in need of quality educational options in their communities – children living in poverty, children of color, children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, children with disabilities, English learners, LGBTQ students, and children experiencing homelessness. These students are the most harmed by the inadequate state funding of our public schools. Existing tax credit programs provide millions of dollars in tuition assistance for families whose children attend elite, expensive private schools and private religious schools, and HB 800 would increase the income limit for families to qualify to as high as $125,000 for a family with two children. In addition, Pennsylvania law allows private schools to discriminate against students, including for their disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and gender identity/expression, leaving marginalized students shut out with limited protections should they attend these schools.
With public schools so inadequately and inequitably funded that rich districts with their own resources have a third more funding per student than poor districts, we urge the Legislature to focus attention on fixing our public education funding, rather than further devastating it through tax credit vouchers. We strongly urge you to oppose HB 800.
Respectfully submitted, Deborah Gordon Klehr, Executive Director Reynelle Brown Staley, Policy Director”
AND THAT’S A crucial warning as chaos grows around the nation: “The deformers are getting bolder trying to move as much public money out of public schools before the public catches on…”