Posted: | October 10, 2023 03:43 PM |
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From: | Representative Joe Ciresi |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Ensuring our Educational Tax Credit Programs Support Students in Need |
Over the past couple of decades, we’ve seen funding for Pennsylvania’s educational tax credit programs increase significantly. But despite over $2 billion in state tax credits being awarded for private and religious school vouchers, the programs are set up in a way that make it difficult to determine their effectiveness and with surprisingly little oversight in how this money is spent. The Independent Fiscal Office found that statutory limits on the programs’ data that may be collected make it impossible to determine whether state funds are used effectively and the extent to which these tax credits increase educational opportunities. Beyond that, Pennsylvania has a higher scholarship eligibility income limit than any other state, resulting in taxpayers subsidizing private school tuition for many families who could afford it even without the scholarships. Loopholes and the highest administrative expenses cap in the country also divert money that could otherwise go to students from low-income families. We have the opportunity to reform these programs to incorporate accountability and create confidence that the money we’ve authorized for these programs is going to students who need it. That is why I plan to introduce legislation to reform our educational tax credit programs and ensure this money is serving its intended purpose by:
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Introduced as HB2063