Jun. 22, 2018
HARRISBURG – Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) released the following statement applauding the expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) to help students attend the schools that best meet their needs and prepare them for success.
“Families who want educational opportunities – to attend non-public schools or to participate in afterschool educational enhancement activities – but cannot afford them have found the educational improvement and opportunity scholarships to be positively life-changing,” Turzai said. “The House taking this step to increase the funding for EITC programs continues to prove the importance placed on education for all Pennsylvanians by the House.”
As part of the state budget package, language within the Public School Code, which passed the House today, increases the amount of the EITC by $25 million, from $135 million to $160 million, and increased the maximum annual household income from $75,000 to $85,000.
“Increasing the maximum annual household income will allow more middle-class families the opportunity to have their children learn in the environment that allows them to best succeed. Education does not have a one-size-fits-all solution, and we want to help all students in Pennsylvania succeed.
“With scholarships changing lives and demand growing accordingly, it was imperative we increase the supply,” said Turzai. “Parents, students, businesses and taxpayers all benefit from this program, which delivers increased parental choice for positive educational outcomes.”
The EITC program provides tax credits to businesses which make contributions to approved scholarship organizations (SOs) offering scholarships to children in kindergarten through grade 12, educational improvement organizations (EIOs) providing funding for innovative educational programs in public schools, and pre-kindergarten scholarship organizations (PKSOs) offering scholarships to children enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs.
“By allowing parents, not systems, to choose what is best for their children, these tax credits ensure children of all backgrounds are afforded a quality education,” said Turzai.
The new regulations will also allow businesses wishing to participate in the EITC program to file in Commonwealth Court if the Department of Community and Economic Development misses notification deadlines by more than 10 days.
Representative Mike Turzai
Speaker of the House
28th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Paul Engelkemier
717.783.1315
PEngelkemier@pahousegop.com
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