Stop Private School Vouchers in PA

PA General Assembly

The PA House is trying to use $100 million in public education funds to pay for an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program, which is simply a private school voucher scheme.

Add your name to the growing list of elected leaders, education advocates and organizations have already signed the petition:

  • Philadelphia Board of Education members: Chris McGinley, Leticia Egea Hinton, Julia Danzy, and Joyce Wilkerson
  • Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry T. Jordan
  • Philadelphia City Council President Darrell L. Clarke
  • Philadelphia City Councilmember Helen Gym
  • Philadelphia City Councilmember Derek Green
  • Philadelphia Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker
  • Philadelphia Councilman Bill Greenlee
  • PA Budget and Policy Center
  • Keystone Research Center
  • Public Interest Law Center
  • Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
  • Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 13000
  • Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee
  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 542
  • Philadelphia Joint Board, Workers United
  • SEIU 32BJ
  • USW Local 286
  • AFT Pennsylvania
  • Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO

To: PA General Assembly
From: [Your Name]

Taxpayer-funded vouchers programs, such as the proposed $100 million expansion of EITC as outlined in HB800, are fiscally irresponsible, morally reprehensible, and most importantly, bad for children.

Not only does EITC route money away from already underserved public education, but it also allows for discrimination and refusal to serve students on the basis of religious affiliation, disability, or academic or disciplinary history. Further, it provides financial gains for donors. In fact, Pennsylvania is one of nine states where the combination of state credits and federal tax deductions is so lucrative that donors can even make a profit.

HB800 is particularly egregious. Not only does it expand the program by $100 million initially, but it also builds in the continued expansion of the program. It increased the income cap to $95,000 while at the same time increasing the tax exemption.

At a time when schools across the Commonwealth are still recovering from the catastrophic budget cuts of the previous administration, it is unconscionable that the Pennsylvania state legislature is giving serious consideration to the expansion of vouchers. While our students are literally getting poisoned in their school buildings, while the number of school counselors still far exceeds recommended ratios, and while students with disabilities are still underserved, our collective focus must be on an investment agenda for our public schools.

Pennsylvania does not need billionaire Betsy DeVos’ backward agenda dictating education policy. The undersigned elected officials, organizations, and individuals represent a broad conglomeration dedicated to advocating for public education. Whether our constituencies are educated in cities, suburbs, or rural areas, we know that the expansion of vouchers in Pennsylvania simply does not make sense.

We are united in our opposition to the expansion of EITC in any capacity, and urge the general assembly to work quickly and decisively to instead formulate a true investment agenda for our students who so richly deserve it.