03/30/2021
From Colleen Walton Hroncich - NOW is the TIME for School Choice! This will FINALLY give parents a seat at the school board table.
On Saturday, WV Gov. Jim Justice signed the most expansive education savings account (ESA) program in the nation. What does this have to do with us in PA? You may remember the nationwide “Red for Ed” protests a few years ago. Those started in WV in 2018. A year later, WV teachers went on strike to prevent kids from having access to charter schools or ESAs (which let state funds follow students to eligible education options that work for them). Now, just 2 years later, WV has legalized charter schools and ESAs. While most ESA programs are initially targeted to specific populations (children with special needs, lower income families, military families, etc.), the WV program is open to any current public school student.
If West Virginia can make such a drastic pivot in such a short time, we should take encouragement here in PA. We already have tax credit scholarships and charter schools, but there are waitlists for both. Fortunately, legislation will be introduced soon that would increase caps on tax credit scholarships, update the charter school authorization process, and—the most exciting part—introduce education savings accounts in PA. Unlike WV, the accounts in PA would be targeted to the specific populations mentioned above. But once parents get a taste of education freedom, they’re likely to push for more.
One of the reasons many schools are still closed despite the wishes of parents is that districts aren’t really impacted when parents are unhappy. Most parents don’t have options beyond their local district school. Even more affluent parents in what are typically considered good districts might struggle to pay tuition b/c they’re already paying high mortgage and property taxes for those schools. Expanding school choice options would benefit all parents because it would give them a seat at the table. If districts know they’ll lose state funds when families leave district schools, they’ll be more incentivized to meet children’s needs.
A key way to make lawmakers understand the need for programs like these is to share stories of children who would benefit from them. If you’re interested in learning more or sharing a story, please email [email protected].
https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2021/03/29/florida_and_west_virginia_are_putting_students_first_other_states_should_follow_their_lead_110557.html?fbclid=IwAR1V4kogAf7SiwB_mwHyaVTBhFYxofLY298pRvRYxlhAz3H4MAjM7XBw1HM
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