School Choice Week: To Fund, or Not to Fund With State Money

“We are here! No fear! And we’re not going away!”
The chant thundered through the main capitol rotunda on Tuesday, Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) leading around 100 students crowded onto the grand staircase in the rallying cry.
This is national school choice week—and advocates and lawmakers came out loud in support.
“School choice is the ability for parents to make the best decision in the interest of their child,” Sharon Sedler said, founder of the group Pennsylvania Families for Education Choice.
Around 1.5 million— 75%— of Pennsylvania students are enrolled in public school systems. But for families whose kid doesn’t mesh with a local district or needs a different approach to learning—they have options.
Around 500,000— 25%— of students are home schooled or enrolled in charter schools or private schools across the state.
“Sometimes it's values, sometimes it's environment. Sometimes it's academic needs, special education,” Sedler said, talking on why a family might choose a different education path than the public school district for their kid.
School choice is not controversial.
“I am okay with school choice,” Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-Philadelphia) said. “You should have the opportunity to go where you want to go, send your child where they want to send them.”
The controversial part is if the state should help pay for a family choosing non public education.
"Shouldn’t we look to reform the way we need to reform so every student gets a good education?"
For some families, their public school district is decently funded and operated. The choice to send a student to a different institution can arise from disagreements or religious reasons… to a child working better at home or needing more help to meet special needs.
For some families, they live in public school districts that operate on low funding in hundred year old school buildings with no air conditioner. Choosing a different institution is an escape.
Many families who live in low funded districts are themselves on low incomes. They often cannot afford non public institutions.
Lawmakers in Harrisburg are intensely divided over if state funds should be made available for families who choose a non public institution. These funds often come in the form of tax credits or of a voucher program, where a family could apply for a lump sum of money to help them send a student to a different school
Republicans say state funding for school choice gives families autonomy, and that expanding the options parents have for school would prompt schools to improve when faced with competition.
“Anytime you can create competition, the consumer wins. And the consumer in this is the students,” Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga) said, secretary for the Republican House Caucus. "We need to lean into that, look for opportunities and options for these students and realize that education is one size, does not fit all,”
Democrats say state education funds are already stretched too thin, pointing to how some push for school choice is a response to struggling public schools.
“Shouldn’t we improve the schools in the district that need the improvement?” Ciresi said.
Ciresi also noted that tax credit and voucher program are unhelpful for low income families who are more likely to be in the struggling districts.
“I’m going to give you— and I’ll go high— a $15,000 voucher. Most private schools start at $30,000 or more. You’re a low income family. Where are you coming up with [$15,000] to send your kid to that school?” Ciresi said. "$15,000 at the high end is not helping the children in north Philadelphia go to a private school that's $45,000,” Ciresi said. “Because parents are working two or three jobs just to get by on a daily basis.”