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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 17, 2015 11:02 AM
From:	Senator Ryan P. Aument
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Emergency EITC Scholarship Approval

TOMORROW I will be introducing a bill to allow for scholarships and tax credits under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program to be awarded immediately. Students and schools throughout the Commonwealth rely on the EITC and OSTC programs to provide a safe teaching environment and quality education to predominantly low-income families. Since 2001, these programs have seen strong bipartisan support and have helped countless children and families along the way. Unfortunately, Governor Wolf has directed the Department of Community of Economic Development to withhold the scholarship award approval letters until a budget is enacted. Though this action defies the law, it has halted the EITC process, leaving thousands of students, schools, and families in the limbo. If approval letters are not released by December 31st, millions in scholarships and tax credits will be lost forcing families to scramble to pay tuition or find new schools. Schools will also be impacted with an unforeseen cut in funding mid-school year, forcing some to close their doors entirely. The game being played with our students has gone on long enough. My legislation would direct the Department of Community and Economic Development to immediately release the approval letters and necessary notification so scholarships can be awarded by the December 31st deadline. The lives of students has been disrupted enough by the failure of state government to enact a budget. Please join me in preserving the EITC scholarships for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

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