Beaver County News

In a recent development, the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), celebrated the inclusion of $150 million in House Bill 301 to support educational improvement and opportunity scholarships in Pennsylvania. This decision comes after House Democrats made a detrimental cut to these programs, prompting concerns about the impact on families, students, and educational institutions across the Commonwealth.

During a series of hearings titled "Funding our Children's Future," the Policy Committee aimed to highlight the importance of these programs. Chairman Kail emphasized the significance of providing every child with an environment that suits their needs, stating, "Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that makes sense for their needs and those of their family." He also acknowledged the hard work of Pennsylvania Republicans in ensuring the continuation of programs that prevent children from failing alongside the state's education system.

The programs in question are the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. These initiatives enable businesses to claim a tax credit for donations to local scholarship funds and innovative educational programming for children from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Qualifying parents and caregivers can apply to these programs and secure scholarships that make their family's education of choice a reality.

At the hearings, direct beneficiaries of the EITC/OSTC programs, including parents, a former student, and leaders from local libraries, daycare/early education facilities, and community organizations, testified. Their testimonies provided compelling evidence for the need for increased funding. For example, parents shared stories of students with individual learning needs not supported by their local public schools and single parents who require safe and enriching environments for their children while they work full-time jobs. Ruth Alicea, a parent, expressed her gratitude for the scholarships, stating, "The scholarships help someone like me to take the pressure off to have to work multiple jobs."

The impact of funding cuts was also highlighted during the hearings. Chris Watts, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, emphasized the detrimental consequences, stating, "Without EITC contributions, our capacity to continue to provide these quality programs will be significantly reduced, and the lives and futures of hundreds of youth will be impacted." The Pennsylvania Library Association CEO, Christi Buker, explained that although EITC funds may only account for a small fraction of libraries' total income, they represent up to 80% of their children's programming budgets. Without these funds, libraries would be unable to hold as many programs or serve as many children.

Zakiyyah Boone, CEO of Wonderspring Early Education, a nonprofit provider of high-quality early childhood education and school-age care, highlighted the need for more funding. She stated, "If there were more dollars, we could serve more children." Access to education improvement or opportunity scholarships plays a crucial role in supporting families, as Boone emphasized, "Families [would] lose a lifeline. They need this lifeline."

Fortunately, Pennsylvania families can rest assured that this lifeline will remain intact. Chairman Kail reassured the public, stating, "EITC and OSTC will continue to fund our children's future." The inclusion of $150 million in House Bill 301 showcases a commitment to providing educational opportunities for all children in Pennsylvania.

Overall, the efforts of the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Joshua D. Kail, have successfully secured continued funding for educational improvement and opportunity scholarships. The testimonies shared during the hearings provided a compelling case for the importance of these programs. With the inclusion of $150 million in House Bill 301, Pennsylvania families can continue to rely on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs to support their children's education and future.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.repkail.com/News/33284/Latest-News/Kail,-Policy-Committee-Celebrate-Continued-Funding-for-Educational-Improvement,-Opportunity-Scholarships-Across-Pennsylvania