Pennsylvania's proposed Opportunity Scholarship (SB 1) made it through a key Senate education committee today, passing by an 8-2 margin, with two Democrats voting in favor.
Democrats in opposition to the measure had proposed several amendments -- some addressing funding mechanisms, others adding regulations on faith-based schools that accept scholarship students -- most of which were voted down during the morning hearing. With the exception of committee chair Jeffrey Piccola, the bill's prime sponsor, most of the debate pitted Democrat versus Democrat. At one point, Democratic bill co-sponsor Sen. Anthony Williams shot back at Democratic Sen. Daylin Leach, taking offense at the accusation that he was behaving like an "ideologue."
The bill provides private school tuition assistance to low-income students who, in the first year of the program, attend the state's “persistently lowest-achieving schools.” But by the third year, low-income children anywhere in Pennsylvania would be eligible.
The vote comes after several days of legislative activity on school choice measures nationwide, during which tuition tax credit legislation was filed in several states.
Among the new bills:
Maryland: HB 932 and SB 315 would establish the Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers (BOAST) tax credit, resurrecting an effort that died in a legislative committee last spring but which had the support of Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Ohio: SB 65 would eliminate the limit on the number of Educational Choice scholarships; SB 88 would establish tax credit scholarships for low-income students; and SB 136 would enact the Parental Choice and Taxpayer Savings Scholarship Program, or PACT, and create a special education scholarship program.
Georgia: HB 325 and HB 369 address student scholarship organizations and the state's education income tax credit
In other updates, Oklahoma's proposed Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act (SB 969) passed a key education committee last week
We continue to watch state legislation nationally and in Washington, D.C., that would establish tax credit scholarships, school vouchers or other publicly funded private options. New Jersey has generated the most attention with a proposed Opportunity Scholarship Act for low-income students benefitting from a 5-0 vote out of the assembly's Commerce and Economic Development Committee that included the support of three Democrats. But several other states have newly joined this policy debate. Our update is below:
Arizona -- SB 1312 (Providing additional tax credit for contribution to school tuition organizations): Primary sponsor, Sen. Murphy; on agenda today for the senate Finance Committee -- SB 1553 (Arizona Empowerment Accounts): Primary sponsor, Sen. Murphy; on agenda Monday, Feb. 14, for the senate Education Committee
New Jersey -- A 2810 (Opportunity Scholarship Act): Primary sponsors, Assemblymen Fuentes, DeCroce, Schaer and Webber; Advanced from assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee on Feb. 3, with amendments, and referred to assembly Budget Committee
New Mexico -- SB 113 (Tax Credit for Certain Scholarship Donations): Primary sponsor, Sen. Boitano; tabled in the senate Education Committee -- SB 398 (Special Needs Student Scholarship Act): Primary sponsor, Sen. Ortiz y Pino; referred to senate Education Committee -- SB 433 (Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act): Primary sponsor, Sen. Campos; referred to senate Education Committee
Oklahoma -- HB 2133 (Educational Improvement Act): Primary sponsor, Rep. Steele; referred to appropriations and budget -- SB 969 (Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act): Primary sponsor, Sen. Newberry
Tennessee -- HB 0388 (Equal OpportunityScholarship Act): Primary sponsor, Rep. Dunn; SB 0485 (Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act): Primary sponsor, Sen. Kelsey
Virginia -- HB 2314 (Education Investment Tax Credit): Primary sponsor, Delegate Massie; passed the House of Delegates 54-45 on Feb. 8; referred to senate Finance Committee
Washington, D.C. -- HR 471 (Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act): Primary sponsor, Rep. Boehner; referred to house Committee on Oversight and Government Reform -- S 206 (Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act of 2011): Primary sponsor, Sen. Lieberman, referred to senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs
We'll be updating information on similar bills in other states soon, including HB 1003 in Indiana, SB 1 in Pennsylvania, and S 414 and H 3407 in South Carolina
