Low-income kindergarteners are one step closer to having more educational opportunities next year. Despite two attempts to remove the expansion of school vouchers, the Senate passed the budget bill on Thursday with only a slight modification of the governor’s voucher proposal. Current law limits the EdChoice Scholarship program to students attending, or assigned to a low-performing public school.
The governor’s original plan would award $4250 scholarships to 2000 low-income students entering kindergarten next year, regardless of their zip code. Under the House-passed bill, once a low-income student received a voucher he would continue receiving a scholarship in future years even if his family income increased. The Senate language reduces the amount of the scholarship as a family’s income increases and phases out the voucher once a family rises above 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.
The Senate made several other changes to the current voucher programs. We have already started sharing our concerns about the troubling amendments and expressing support for the positive changes . One important positive change was made to the current EdChoice program. It allows families moving from out-of-state and assigned to a poor-performing public school to receive a scholarship without first having to attend their assigned school.
The bill is expected to go to a Conference Committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. The final version is expected to be sent to the governor by June 27.
Agudath Israel Testifies in Support of Scholarship Tax Credits
On Wednesday afternoon, Rabbi A. D. Motzen testified before the House Education Committee in support of creating a scholarship tax credit program in Ohio. House Bill 158 (Brenner, Patmon) would award up to $20 million in tax credits for donors who contribute to scholarship organizations. These nonprofit organizations would then award scholarships to low-income students, including those struggling to remain in private school. Rabbi Motzen praised the bi-partisan proposal for recognizing the sacrifices of parents, who often juggle multiple jobs to help pay for a school they feel is best for their child.
Also testifying at the hearing were: School Choice Ohio, the Ohio Association of Independent Schools, and the Ohio Coalition for Quality Education. The next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11.
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