There is no singular education solution that meets the needs of every child, especially our youngest learners. When you put students in the center of the conversation, the answers to the question, “How do we improve educational outcomes?” become far more expansive.
Parents and caregivers should be able to make school decisions based on their family’s needs and without limiting educational success due to financial barriers. Philadelphia’s children deserve access to all of the available options.
Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia provides needs-based, partial scholarships for up to three children in a family to attend quality, safe, K-8th grade tuition-based schools. During the 2023-24 school year, CSFP awarded more than $13 million in scholarships for students to attend schools of choice and improve their educational outcomes. This year, the goal is to award 6,500 scholarships. As we seek to serve more students for longer and award 2,000 new scholarships each year, there is room for many community members to participate.
The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs offer options for businesses and individuals to get involved with CSFP. Donors who contribute can receive up to 90% (dollar-for-dollar) Pennsylvania tax credits for their donations. Almost any business or individual with a Pennsylvania tax liability is eligible. Tax credit giving can significantly increase your philanthropic impact, allowing you to make a gift that benefits young people that you may never have thought possible.
Why are scholarships during the early years important in Philadelphia?
Our recent study shows that when Philly students who live in low-achieving public school neighborhoods have the chance to attend the tuition-based school of their family’s choice, their academic performance outpaces that of their public school peers. The report shows 54% of CSFP 7th grade students score at or above proficiency in math, compared to 19% of SDP students. Sixty-one percent of CSFP 7th grade students score at or above proficiency in reading, compared to 38% of SDP students. In addition, the research shows the longer a student remains in a tuition-based school, the more likely they are to be proficient in math and reading.
Test scores are one way to measure educational success. Being with CSFP for just over four years now, I think a lot about our students and their families. I think about David, who received a CSFP scholarship for four years and entered high school knowing that he wanted to be a physician. He shared that his CSFP scholarship and school experience gave him the academic foundation that he needed to gain admission to an Ivy League college, on track for medical school and beyond. I think of the Gomez family, whose journey started with one child winning the CSFP lottery for a scholarship that eventually extended to include four scholarships, admission to the high schools and universities of their choice, and inspired mom to pursue her dream of earning her college degree. So many doors opened once access to education was granted – and the outcomes have been profound.
We are always looking for individuals to join us in our mission to provide children from under-resourced Philadelphia families with financial access to quality, safe, K-8th grade, tuition-based schools, thereby increasing their long-term economic and social success. Join us as we strive to break the generational cycle of poverty through education.
By Keisha Jordan, President & CEO, Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia
Keisha Jordan is a dedicated non-profit leader with 24 years of experience in non-profit management, education advocacy, school administration, human resources, staff and volunteer training, and fund development. Keisha is President & CEO of Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP), a non-profit providing financial access for children from under-resourced Philadelphia families to attend K-8th grade tuition-based schools.