Daily News | New Pa. budget injects $125M into private school tax credit program that lacks basic accountability
in early July, they delivered a historic windfall to a popular tax credit program that underwrites scholarships for Pennsylvania students to attend private schools.
“We have zero quantitative data to see if it’s effective,” said state Sen. Lindsey Williams, a Democrat from Allegheny County who also spoke out against the program’s funding increase when lawmakers voted on the budget. “And we don’t even get additional accountability in exchange for the largest increase to the program.”
In 2001, under Republican Gov. Tom Ridge, the legislature voted, without debate, to create the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, or EITC. At the time, some lawmakers and public education activists viewed it as a backdoor way for Ridge, an advocate of government-funded tuition vouchers, to get a school choice program in place in Pennsylvania.
That first year, the EITC program was capped at $30 million, but legislators have negotiated increases to it nearly every year since. With the additional $115 million in this year’s budget deal, the cap now stands at $340 million.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kristi Noem running digital ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina; new northeast trip plannedRepublican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota sparks speculation of a 2024 presidential run by running digital ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina
Read more »
6 of 9 Miners Rescued 20 Years Ago in Pa. Gather for ReunionSix of the nine men trapped in a flooded mine in southwestern Pennsylvania two decades ago gathered at a raceway over the weekend to kick off 20th anniversary celebrations of the dramatic rescue that ended their 77-hour ordeal.
Read more »
Three crashes on Pa. Turnpike expected to slow traffic in Cumberland, Dauphin countiesOverturned car crash expected to slow traffic on Pa. Turnpike in Cumberland County
Read more »
Pa. school board member charged in Florida with unlawful sexual activity with a minor resignsThe man was reportedly vacationing with a group that included the victim and her mother when the incident allegedly occurred.
Read more »
Arrest made in fatal shooting of Pa. warehouse employee, police sayA 44-year-old woman was killed in her car in the parking lot, and a man has been arrested.
Read more »
Ivana Trump’s death was an accident: New York medical examinerShe was married to former president Donald Trump from 1977 to 1992, and they had three children together.
Read more »