AFC Applauds Bipartisan Pennsylvania School Choice Proposal

Sweeping New Bill Would Expand Opportunities for Tens of Thousands of Children

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Jan 12, 2011, 11:31 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A bipartisan team of Pennsylvania legislators yesterday unveiled the details of a much-anticipated private school choice plan that, if passed, would allow low-income families to apply for state scholarships to send their children to schools of their choice.

The plan, announced by state Senators Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) and Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-Dauphin and York), would grant opportunity scholarships, also known as school vouchers, of approximately $9,000 to qualifying families.

The American Federation for Children, one of America's leading school choice advocacy organizations, today praised Williams and Piccola for moving boldly to address educational inequality in Pennsylvania, and for proposing legislation that would also increase the amount of the state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program by $25 million.

The EITC program currently serves more than 40,000 children, providing companies with tax credits when they donate to non-profit scholarship or educational improvement organizations.

"Pennsylvania lawmakers are doing the right thing on behalf of thousands of children and families who lack access to the educational options they so desperately need," said Betsy DeVos, AFC chairman. "Expanded opportunities like the ones contained in this bill are a huge step towards improving the education of children in Pennsylvania. We hope that legislators around the country look to the example set by Pennsylvania and work towards giving every family access to educational opportunity."

Williams and Piccola's plan would be phased in over the course of three years, and the proposed cost to taxpayers would be lower than the traditional costs of educating children in the public school system. If passed, the bill would provide access to a quality education for thousands of Pennsylvania children who would otherwise be forced to continue attending significantly underperforming schools.

The bill's bipartisan unveiling follows a 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign in which both candidates, now-Governor-Elect Tom Corbett and his Democratic opponent, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, forcefully supported private school choice.

In addition to recognizing the legislative team responsible for the legislation, AFC also saluted the Students First PAC (www.studentsfirstpac.com) and REACH Alliance (www.paschoolchoice.org) for their tireless advocacy on behalf of expanding school choice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit www.FederationForChildren.org

SOURCE American Federation for Children