The Grassroots Coalition for Real School Choice, representing tens of thousands of Pennsylvania Tea Party activists and Conservatives, has formed in opposition to Senate Bill 1 in its present form.
We cannot, in good conscience, support a bill which is more "entitlement" than "school choice" and are writing this open letter to outline our position.
The Coalition, itself, is comprised of over 20 Pennsylvania groups who are withholding support from this bill unless it is amended -- and, given the stakes, will make the outcome of this legislation a litmus test issue in the 2012 elections.
The fact remains that while the proponents of SB 1 have been selling it as a broad, inclusive bill, it does not provide any meaningful financial assistance to the 27,000 middle income children currently attending failing schools or other middle income children, who, if the bill is not amended, will be left out of the "school choice" promise.
(Since half of all Pennsylvania's 11th graders are not proficient in Reading and Math, according to PSSA test scores, the problem of "failing schools" is an even broader matter.)
Despite claims that SB 1 already benefits middle income families through the EITC Scholarship Program, we respectfully disagree. The average EITC Scholarship is only $1,100. Not enough to make a substantial difference for many children.
At the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference held this past weekend, Senator Jeffrey Piccola, a prime sponsor of SB 1, admitted that the bill was drafted in July, 2010 and was not redrafted to reflect the results of the November, 2010 elections.
In July, 2010, the Democrats controlled the PA House and the Governorship. The bill was specifically written to appease Democratic Legislators and a Democratic Governor. The bill has not been altered to reflect the reality of the new Republican majority in the PA Assembly and a new Republican Governor.
Also, this past weekend, Senator Piccola promised to amend SB 1 to include middle income children whose family income is 300% above the poverty level. He suggested that the addition would be made in the fourth year of the program--depending on fiscal savings in the first three years. While this is movement in the right direction, it is simply not enough.
In order to garner our coalition's support for SB 1, we urge the PA Senate amend the bill to include the following:
- In the first two years of the program, any child in the Commonwealth attending a failing school, whose family adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed $85,000 based on a family of four, will be entitled to receive a combination of EITC Scholarship and voucher funding totaling no more than $5000. (EITC Scholarships, if available, must be applied for before a voucher could be granted.) If an EITC Scholarship were to exceed $5000, the student would not be eligible to receive a voucher.
- In the third year of the program, any child attending a Commonwealth school, whose family AGI does not exceed $85,000 based on a family of four, will be entitled to receive a combination of EITC Scholarship and voucher funding totaling no more than $5000. (EITC Scholarships, if available, must be applied for before a voucher could be granted.) If an EITC Scholarship were to exceed $5000, the student would not be eligible to receive a voucher.
- Parents of all Home Schooled and private Cyber Schooled children, whose AGI does not exceed $85,000, based on a family of four, shall be entitled to receive personal tax credits of up to $2,000 per child, ranging in ages of 4-19, to cover the expenses of legitimate books, supplies,and specialized classes.
- Include specific language to protect non-public schools from intrusive federal and state regulation.
On behalf of the Grassroots Coalition for Real School Choice,
Teri Adams, President, Independence Hall Tea Party Association, 215.690.4043
Sharon Cherubin, Executive Director, UNITEPA of Lancaster County, 717.413.3973
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