State teacher's union blasts proposed school voucher scholarships

Jun. 27—Pennsylvania's teachers union is protesting a proposed program that would shift funding from public to private schools.

The initiative would provide state-funded "lifeline scholarships" to eligible students at schools identified as "low-achieving." The program could come to a vote in the Senate this week amid the state budget approval process.

Available on a first-come, first-served basis, scholarships of up to $15,000 per year could be used to pay for tuition or other expenses at a nonpublic school or to cover special education fees.

Supporters say the program could help to address inequities in state school funding that were noted in a Commonwealth Court ruling in February.

Opponents claim the scholarships are a new form of school vouchers that will do the opposite, benefiting a small percentage of Pennsylvania students to the detriment of public schools and the many more students who attend them.

"The fundamental problem with vouchers is you're taking funding away from public schools and funding private schools, no matter how you characterize the legislation," said Fritz Fekete, Pennsylvania State Education Association advocacy coordinator for the Southwestern region. The region includes Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and Greene counties.

Fekete added that "90 to 95% of children that are of school age go to public schools. In effect, you're creating this funding stream to follow less than 10% of the children in the state."

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Hempfield) is among legislators who are backing the lifeline scholarship program.

Ward's staff noted state support of Pennsylvania's public schools reached more than $14.7 billion in the fiscal year just ending, representing an increase of more than 50% over the past decade.

"It is important that we continue to build on the historic investments already made in education by continuing to position all students for success," Ward said in a statement issued Monday. "Lifeline scholarships give students in low-achieving school districts the opportunity to graduate, obtain a skill or degree, and secure a job by removing themselves from a failing situation.

"We should be evolving our education system to develop the necessary skilled workforce to help make our state more competitive. We are working across the aisle and have the support of Gov. Shapiro. We can do big things in Pennsylvania, and we can do big things on education now."

The state defines a low-achieving public school as one that ranked in the lowest 15% among schools of the same grade range (elementary or secondary), based on combined math and reading scores from an annual assessment administered in the previous school year that are available to the public online.

In Westmoreland County, schools in the Monessen City and New Kensington-Arnold districts meet the low-achieving criteria.

PSEA objects that the proposal doesn't include any requirements for academic accountability among private and religion-affiliated schools and that such schools aren't required to comply with federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guidelines for students with special needs.

The union also argues that, lacking income limitations for students, the program "would allow wealthy Pennsylvanians to access tuition vouchers."

PSEA suggested that the scholarships would duplicate funding for nonpublic schools that already is available through programs that allow businesses to claim tax credits in return for making scholarship contributions to the schools.

Fekete declined to comment on indications that Shapiro supports lifeline scholarships. PSEA endorsed Shapiro in his gubernatorial campaign.

"We hope it's defeated in the House if it passes the Senate," Fekete said of the legislation.

Fekete expressed hope the governor would veto related legislation if it makes it to his desk.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .