Reading Eagle January 21, 2011: by David Mekeel
A plan to introduce school vouchers in Pennsylvania is drawing criticism even before it's been formally introduced.
The Pennsylvania School Board Association, or PSBA, announced opposition Thursday to news that a school voucher bill soon will be introduced in the state Senate.
Last week, state Sens. Anthony Hardy Williams, a Philadelphia Democrat, and Jeffrey E. Piccola, a Dauphin County Republican, announced details of legislation they plan to introduce that would give state money to poor students who wanted to transfer to a private school or another public school.
It is unclear when the legislation will be introduced.
The bill, which will be named Senate Bill 1, initially would only affect the 144 poorest-performing schools in the state.
Only two Berks County schools - Reading High School and Reading's Gateway School for International Business and World Language - are on that list.
After two years the program would expand to include all "low-income" students in the state.
Students would be identified as low-income if their families fell within 1.3 percent of the federal poverty level.
For example, a student in a family of four that has a family income of $28,665 or less would qualify.
Those students would be allowed to apply for a voucher equal to the amount the state gives a district per student. That money would be taken from the state subsidy to the student's home district.
The vouchers could be used to pay tuition at a private school, or to transfer to another public school.
According to information from Piccola's office, the vouchers - which they dub "opportunity scholarships" - would create an escape route for students trapped in failing or unsafe schools.
But PSBA officials said the voucher plan has some serious flaws.
According to Tim Allwein, PSBA's assistant executive director of governmental and member relations, one of the major concerns is whether the potential of using public money for religious schools violates the state constitution.
Another is the ability of schools - both private and public - to refuse voucher students, which would let them pick and choose which students benefit most from the vouchers.
Allwein also said private schools that accept public funds should be required to meet all of the state and federal requirements that public schools meet.
"If not, then take them off the public schools also," he said of the requirements.
Economics is another concern about the voucher plan.
Allwein said taking state funding away from schools now - when they're facing decreased tax revenue and increases in costs such as pension contributions, salaries and utilities - is unwise.
"It's a loss of state money at a time when there are a lot of state pressures on school districts," he said.
Contact David Mekeel: 610-371-5014 or dmekeel@readingeagle.com.
The Pennsylvania School Board Association, or PSBA, announced opposition Thursday to news that a school voucher bill soon will be introduced in the state Senate.
Last week, state Sens. Anthony Hardy Williams, a Philadelphia Democrat, and Jeffrey E. Piccola, a Dauphin County Republican, announced details of legislation they plan to introduce that would give state money to poor students who wanted to transfer to a private school or another public school.
It is unclear when the legislation will be introduced.
The bill, which will be named Senate Bill 1, initially would only affect the 144 poorest-performing schools in the state.
Only two Berks County schools - Reading High School and Reading's Gateway School for International Business and World Language - are on that list.
After two years the program would expand to include all "low-income" students in the state.
Students would be identified as low-income if their families fell within 1.3 percent of the federal poverty level.
For example, a student in a family of four that has a family income of $28,665 or less would qualify.
Those students would be allowed to apply for a voucher equal to the amount the state gives a district per student. That money would be taken from the state subsidy to the student's home district.
The vouchers could be used to pay tuition at a private school, or to transfer to another public school.
According to information from Piccola's office, the vouchers - which they dub "opportunity scholarships" - would create an escape route for students trapped in failing or unsafe schools.
But PSBA officials said the voucher plan has some serious flaws.
According to Tim Allwein, PSBA's assistant executive director of governmental and member relations, one of the major concerns is whether the potential of using public money for religious schools violates the state constitution.
Another is the ability of schools - both private and public - to refuse voucher students, which would let them pick and choose which students benefit most from the vouchers.
Allwein also said private schools that accept public funds should be required to meet all of the state and federal requirements that public schools meet.
"If not, then take them off the public schools also," he said of the requirements.
Economics is another concern about the voucher plan.
Allwein said taking state funding away from schools now - when they're facing decreased tax revenue and increases in costs such as pension contributions, salaries and utilities - is unwise.
"It's a loss of state money at a time when there are a lot of state pressures on school districts," he said.
Contact David Mekeel: 610-371-5014 or dmekeel@readingeagle.com.
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