They Said it: School Choice and the State of the Union Address

A lot of chatter surrounding last night’s State of the Union Address has been focused on coming up with ways to solve our nation’s education issues.  While President Obama discussed the importance of providing low-income families with access to quality pre-k programs, many conversations have arose on the need to expand access to quality k-12 programs for America’s poorest students. 

In the Tea Party response to President Obama’s address, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) focused on the need to make options available to all students, no matter how much their family makes or where they live:

“For those striving to climb the ladder of success we must fix our schools. America’s educational system is leaving behind anyone who starts with disadvantages… A great education needs to be available for everyone, whether you live on country club lane or in government housing.

“This will only happen when we allow school choice for everyone, rich or poor, white, brown, or black. Let the taxes you pay for education follow each and every student to the school of your choice. Competition has made America the richest nation in history. Competition can make our educational system the envy of the world.”

In the official Republican response, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reiterated the point that all students deserve an equal opportunity to receive a quality education: 

“We need to give all parents, especially the parents of children with special needs, the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice.” 

Senator Rubio followed up his response by introducing legislation today aimed at expanding access to a federally funded scholarship program for low-income students.   If passed, the Educational Opportunities Act would provide families with household incomes equaling 250 percent of poverty ($57,625 for a family of four) with the opportunity to take advantage of scholarships to attend the private school of their choice.   

Learn more about the Educational Opportunities Act here 

Read American Federation for Children’s response to Senator Rubio’s bill here.

 

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, KMS

Georgia Department of Revenue Shows Growth in School Choice Program

The Georgia Department of Revenue last week released updated information (PDF) on its scholarship tax credit program.  Originally enacted in 2008, the program has grown from serving 3,000 students in the 2009-10 school year to more than 10,000 students this past school year.  In fact, the state Department of Revenue reports that 11,292 scholarships were awarded to eligible students in 2011-12!

More than 17,000 individuals and 196 businesses donated more than $47 million dollars to the program, resulting in $39,456,599 in scholarships awarded.

Check out all of the numbers:

Total Contributions	17,238
Individual Contributions	17,042
Corporate Contributions	196

Total Donated to Student Scholarship Organizations	47,358,986
Individual Donations	$31,095,340
Corporate Donations	$16,263,646

Total Value of Scholarships Awarded	$39,456,599
Total Scholarships Award	11,292
Average Scholarship	$3,494

  

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Seven Reasons to Support Scholarship Tax Credit Programs

Since Arizona created it first scholarship tax credit program in 1997, states across the country have followed suit, enacting private school choice programs that let individuals and corporations donate money to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships for students to attend the public or private school of their parents’ choice.  Today, there are 12 scholarship tax credit programs in 10 states. Already this year, Virginia and Louisiana having enacted programs and Florida and Arizona have expanded existing programs.  And more states are considering creating scholarship tax credit programs, including New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Hampshire.

Despite recent attacks on scholarship tax credit programs—and letters to the editor correcting these fallacies, support for scholarship tax credit programs (from both Democrats and Republicans) is stronger than ever.  Keep reading to see seven reasons why these programs are so important to the families enrolled in them.

Scholarship Tax Credit Programs…

...Serve the Children Most in Need

Scholarship tax credit programs help students from low-income families that could not otherwise attend a school outside of their assigned public school.  Of the 12 publicly-funded private school choice programs, nine are means-tested and one is tailored for students with special needs.  In fact, a June 2010 Pennsylvania General Assembly report shows that the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit—the nation’s largest scholarship tax credit program—serves the educational needs of predominately low-income families.  The average income per family participating in the scholarship program is $29,000, which is 48 percent of the maximum allowed for a family with one child in the scholarship program.

...Have Been Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court

In 2011, the highest court upheld the constitutionality of scholarship tax credit programs.  In Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn, the Supreme Court held that scholarship tax credit programs do not violate the separation of church and state.  Writing for the majority, Justice Kennedy wrote that “contributions result from the decisions of private tax payers regarding their own funds.” 

Grand Canyon State Celebrates Anniversary of Grand Victory

Many minds have been on the U.S. Supreme Court in recent days, and that includes ours here at School Choice Now! -- but not for the reasons you might be thinking.

One year ago today, families across the nation cheered for some good news when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that scholarship tax credit programs are indeed constitutional.  More than 128,000 students attend the school of their parents’ choice thanks to 10 scholarship tax credit programs across eight states.

The justices reversed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and instead ruled that the Arizona’s Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program does not violate Constitutional principles with regard to separation of church and state.    

In the 5-4 ruling, the majority decided that choice opponents lack standing to challenge the Arizona program on grounds that it uses government funds to promote religious institutions.

Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said that although parents use most of the scholarship funds to send their children religious-affiliated schools, it does not amount to the funding of those schools by the government.

“Contributions result from the decisions of private taxpayers regarding their own funds,” Kennedy said.

Since it began in 1997, the Arizona Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program has grown to become the third-largest school choice program in the country—one of four school choice programs in Arizona alone. It is also the third-longest running school choice program in the country and the nation’s oldest scholarship tax credit program.

The ruling was just one of many victories for educational options in 2011—a year The Wall Street Journal—dubbed “the year of school choice.”  In addition, seven new publicly funded private school choice programs were enacted and 11 were expanded.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

In the 'Business' of Helping Kids

Business Leaders and Education Programs: A Combination that Works

President Obama is meeting with business leaders across the nation to talk investment options—for our nation’s K-12 students.  According to a piece in the Wall Street Journal today, the Administration and business leaders are on the same side in investing in innovative education programs, much to the chagrin of special interests, like the teachers’ unions.

But businesses (and individuals) can already participate in innovative education programs that work.  Eight states currently operate scholarship tax credit programs that give hundreds of thousands of students immediate access to a quality education.

With 10 programs operating across the country, businesses and individuals can receive state tax credits for donating money to scholarship organizations that help children attend the private schools of their choice.  Often targeted to help special needs and low-income students, these programs give families a choice in the education for their children. Read the details after the jump.