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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 10, 2021 11:31 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Clint Owlett and Rep. Martina A. White |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Lifeline Scholarship |
| We know a high-quality education is the foundation for the American Dream. Yet, thousands of Pennsylvania students are denied that opportunity simply because their ZIP code confines them to some of the lowest-achieving district schools in the state. These children wake up every day to the hard truth that their school doesn’t meet their needs. There’s no question students in low-performing schools deserve better options now. In the near future, we will be introducing legislation that establishes the Lifeline Scholarship to give students and parents residing within the attendance areas of the lowest-achieving public schools resources to pursue a high-quality education that meets their needs. Under our legislation, parents with school age children (1st through 12th grade) who reside within the attendance area of a district school in the bottom 15% of performance metrics based on state testing would be eligible to receive a scholarship to offset costs associated with choosing an alternative academic setting that meets their child’s individual learning needs. The accounts would be administered by the state Treasurer, much like the existing 529 program. Lifeline Scholarships could only be used for qualified education expenses such as tuition, textbooks, curriculum, tutoring, or services for students with special needs. Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to send an educational lifeline to the thousands of Pennsylvania students trapped in our lowest-performing schools. |
Introduced as HB2169