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Pennsylvania State Senate
05/23/2024 06:32 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=S&cosponId=42011
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 25, 2024 03:18 PM
From: Senator Anthony H. Williams
To: All Senate members
Subject: Educational Freedom Act
 
Education is the foundation to achieving the American Dream. Too often, Pennsylvania students are denied the opportunity to excel simply because their ZIP code confines them to a school that doesn’t meet their needs.  These students not only face a lifetime of lower earnings and increased poverty, but our nation is growing poorer as a result.

Students in low-performing schools deserve better education options now. Soon, I will be introducing the Educational Freedom Act that establishes a new version of the Lifeline Scholarship program to give more students and parents residing within the attendance areas of the lowest-achieving public schools and who meet the low-income requirements of the act, resources to pursue a high-quality education that meets their needs. This is a concept that colleagues in both chambers support along with Governor Josh Shapiro.
 
Under this legislation, parents with school age children (Kindergarten through 12th grade) who reside within the attendance area of a district school in the bottom 15% of performance metrics based on state testing and whose income level is at 250% of the federal poverty line, would be eligible to receive an annual scholarship for their education needs. The amount of the scholarship for 2024-2025 School Year shall be as follows:
  • $2,500 for students in half day kindergarten.
  • $5,000 for students in full day kindergarten through 8th grade.
  • $10,000 for students in grades 9 through 12; or 
  • $15,000 for students with special needs regardless of grade level.
The program would be funded via a new stream of revenue totaling $300 million and would not take any money from public schools. By targeting low-income students residing within the attendance areas of the lowest-achieving public schools, the scholarship program ensures that those in greatest need shall receive the scholarships. The accounts would be administered by the State Treasurer, much like the existing 529 program.  
 
Educational Freedom Act funds can only be used for qualified education expenses such as tuition, school related fees, or special education fees.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation which will provide educational freedom to the thousands of low-income Pennsylvania students trapped in our lowest-performing schools.
 


Introduced as SB1057