Establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program.
Impact
The bill has a profound impact on Pennsylvania’s educational landscape, particularly in addressing barriers faced by students in underperforming public schools. By expanding the funding mechanisms for scholarships, it allows parents to redirect public education funds toward private or parochial institutions. This move is expected to change the dynamics of education funding and school choice in the state, providing financially needy families with more options for their children's education, thereby potentially increasing competition among schools and prioritizing student success.
Summary
Senate Bill 795 establishes the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program aimed at aiding students from low-achieving schools to access education in nonpublic institutions. The program outlines a system for scholarships that are intended to support school-age children who do not have a high school diploma and reside in designated low-achieving school attendance areas. Scholarships can be utilized for tuition, school-related fees, and special education services at eligible nonpublic schools, facilitating greater educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. The act amends the existing Public School Code to integrate this scholarship initiative into the state's educational framework.
Sentiment
The sentiment around SB 795 has been mixed, reflecting the polarized views on school choice and funding in education. Proponents argue that it empowers families and enhances educational options for students in failing schools, thereby promoting a healthier educational ecosystem. However, opponents express concerns about diverting funds from public schools and fear that it may further exacerbate inequalities in the educational system. The debate over this bill highlights the broader national discussions on educational reform and access to quality schooling.
Contention
Debate over SB 795 has focused on the implications of reallocating state educational funds to private institutions. Critics argue it undermines public education by siphoning resources from financially constrained public schools, while supporters maintain it provides necessary relief to families struggling in low-performing school districts. Key contentions revolve around the effectiveness of nonpublic schools in educating scholarship recipients and whether such measures adequately safeguard equitable access to education across socioeconomic spectra.
In Treasury Department, establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Fund; in bonus and tax reports and returns and reports and records relating to tax collections, further providing for confidential information; in tax credits, further providing for Department of Community and Economic Development; in 2022-2023 budget implementation, further providing for Department of Education; and making a repeal.
Establishing the Lifeline Scholarship Program and the Lifeline Scholarship Fund; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the State Treasury and Auditor General.
Providing for individual empowerment scholarship accounts; and establishing the Pennsylvania Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, the Department of Education Empowerment Scholarship Fund and the State Treasurer Empowerment Scholarship Fund.
Providing for the Pennsylvania Promise Pilot Program; prescribing powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; providing for scholarships for tuition and fees, scholarships for room and board and aid for adult reeducation; and establishing the Pennsylvania Promise Pilot Program Fund.
Providing for the Pennsylvania Promise Pilot Program; prescribing powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; providing for scholarships for tuition and fees, scholarships for room and board and aid for adult reeducation; and establishing the Pennsylvania Promise Pilot Program Fund.
Establishing the PA Teacher Pipeline Scholarship Program; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and certain institutions of higher education.
In the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and providing for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; providing for institutions of higher education, for Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program and for intercollegiate athletics; in ready-to-succeed scholarship, further providing for agency; and making a repeal.
In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.
In Treasury Department, establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Fund; in bonus and tax reports and returns and reports and records relating to tax collections, further providing for confidential information; in tax credits, further providing for Department of Community and Economic Development; in 2022-2023 budget implementation, further providing for Department of Education; and making a repeal.
Establishing the Lifeline Scholarship Program and the Lifeline Scholarship Fund; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the State Treasury and Auditor General.