PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL CHOICE MOVEMENT GETS BACKING OF KEY PHILADELPHIA LABOR UNIONS

IBEW Local 98 and Laborers’ District Council Announce Support of Opportunity Scholarships For Low Income Students in Failing Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2010
CONTACT: David Nachtweih, (646) 789-7685

September 24, 2010 (Philadelphia, PA) – The IBEW Local 98 and The Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity today announced their support of Senate Bill 1405 which would give low-income students from failing public school districts opportunity scholarships to attend a private or parochial school. 

Opportunity Scholarships have emerged as a key issue in this fall’s election, with both gubernatorial candidates Tom Corbett and Dan Onorato coming out in support of the program. IBEW Local 98 and the Laborers District Council are the first two union groups in Philadelphia to publicly support the adoption of the legislation.

“Opportunity Scholarships will rescue students trapped in failing schools,” said IBEW Local 98 Business Manager John J. Dougherty. “Children from all economic backgrounds deserve the chance at a bright future and opportunity scholarships and other school choice measures will give them that chance.”

“We have no more important responsibility than to provide our children with a good education,” added Laborers’ District Council Business Manager Ryan Boyer. “Parents and students should have the right to make choices when it comes to their schools.”

Students First, which has been advocating for the passage of statewide Opportunity Scholarship legislation, cheered the support of the local unions as a major moment in the education reform debate.

“All parents should have the opportunity to send their children to a high performing school, and today’s announcement by IBEW Local 98 and The Laborers’ District Council brings us one step closer to attaining that goal,” said Joe Watkins, chairman of Students First. “School choice is not a partisan issue and we’re glad to have these unions supporting our efforts to bring greater educational quality to students throughout the state.”

SB1405 introduced by State Senator Anthony H. Williams in June 2010 would provide low-income families with students enrolled in failing public schools districts with scholarships to attend a school of their choice whether it is charter, private or a parochial school. The scholarship would go towards the costs of tuition at these alternative schools, providing families with a new educational option that would otherwise be financially out-of-reach.


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About Students First
Students First is a non-partisan, political action committee dedicated to supporting Pennsylvania office-holders and candidates who support education reform legislation such as "money follows the child" programs like Opportunity Scholarships and Education Improvement Tax Credits (EITC), expansion of charter, cyber and magnet schools and merit pay for teachers. By joining Students First you add your voice to the call for real education reform and to the most important civil rights issue of today, equal access to quality education.