State Senators Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) and Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) have introduced Senate Bill 1 called the “Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act”. This proposed legislation would greatly expand educational opportunities for low-income Philadelphia children. Highlights of the Bill include the issuance of student vouchers for families whose incomes are at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level (i.e. on average less than $29,000 per year for a family of four) and reside in areas with designated “failed” schools. If approved Senate Bill 1 will also significantly increase the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) funding available for need-based scholarships.
Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia’s core mission is to provide low-income children with financial access to safe, quality K-8th grade tuition-based schools. Over the last decade CSFP has received more than 105,000 applications for 8,500 awards. The need for greater scholarship support by low-income Philadelphia families desperate to provide better opportunities for their children remains tremendous.
CSFP fully supports measures like Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1 because it will expand educational options for many more low-income children who otherwise would remain financially trapped in these designated “failed” schools.
To learn more about how Senate Bill 1 works, please click here.
Given the present budget crisis in Harrisburg, we urge you to voice your opinion on Senate Bill 1.
You can make a private education possible for #PhillyKids this year! Help us provide quality, safe educational opportunities for thousands of Philadelphia students through scholarships.
