Senate passage expected on school voucher bill

HARRISBURG -- School voucher legislation is poised to pass the state Senate as early as today, following a lengthy committee debate Monday over amendments from the bill's opponents.

The measure, which has drawn both fervent support and opposition, would make low-income students eligible for vouchers toward their tuition at a public or private school outside their district. A provision approved Monday would expand that eligibility to some middle-class students in the program's fourth year.

Attempts to limit the program's eligibility, require districts to tally up how much vouchers cost them, and allow students to opt-out of religious classes at their new school all failed in the Appropriations Committee.

Senate Democrats, who mostly opposed the measure in Monday's committee vote, and coalition groups rallying against the bill say the program's costs will be significant. But the plan's sponsor, Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, maintains that it will simply allow the funding a district receives for a student to "follow" them to a new school.

Mr. Piccola's proposal would phase in eligibility over several years: low-income students in more than 140 poorly performing schools could receive assistance during the program's first year. In the second year, low-income students who live in the attendance area of a persistently low-achieving school, but attend a private school, could receive a voucher.

In the third year, all low-income students would be eligible no matter where they attend. The scholarships allotted to those not eligible until the third year would be capped at $250 million.

A "low-income" student is defined as one whose family makes up to 130 percent of the poverty level, or just less than $29,000 for a family of four.

The expanded eligibility starting in the fourth year, or the 2014-15 school year, would offer vouchers to students whose families make up to 300 percent of the poverty level. Currently, that would be about $67,000 annually for a family of four.

The size of those middle-class grants would depend on the number of applicants, Mr. Piccola said.

At the end of Monday's hour-long committee meeting, several of those voting in support of the measure said they were doing so despite concerns with the bill.

"The only problem I have really is, I don't see this thing as down the road helping middle-class families," said Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton. "I know you're trying to get there, but I'm not really convinced we will be in three years."

A coalition of groups rallying against the measure say the plan also faces a tough battle for public support. Calling themselves Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers, 28 civic, labor, religious and education organizations presented a poll they commissioned showing 61 percent of Pennsylvanians are against the idea of using tax dollars for private school vouchers.

The survey, conducted by Terry Madonna Opinion Research, found a preference for other education reforms, such as increasing access to tutoring, and requiring teachers to be certified in the subjects they teach.

"Why would the General Assembly want to institute a plan that research says is probably not effective, and that most Pennsylvanians do not want?" asked Sharon Kletzein, of the state's League of Women Voters.

One former voucher opponent, Sen. Mary Jo White, R-Venango, cited an urgency for changes in the state's education system. "I decided this year I can't sit back and let us fail these same kids year after year," she said.

Laura Olson: [email protected] or 717-787-4254.

First published on April 12, 2011 at 12:00 am