Thursday, April 01, 2010
School Choice Advocate
The New Emerging Leaders of the School Choice Movement
In Pennsylvania, the state constitution mandates that the governor and the legislature pass a budget by July 1; after 101 days of waiting, discussing, and arguing, the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania state budget was signed into law on October 9. The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program was one of the many reasons why the budget was so late, according to a Harrisburg newspaper. While many members of the legislature fought to keep it intact, the governor planned to reduce it dramatically, giving precedence to the Film Tax Credit.
For 101 days, REACH had the daunting task of keeping the 44,000 children affected by the EITC Program at the forefront as the budget battle continued.
Earlier in the year, we sent postcards introducing our five Visions of Choice students to the legislature. After the first few weeks without a budget, we sent another round of postcards highlighting these children, in addition to "EITC Fast Fact" postcards. With facts stating how much money the EITC saves the state and the citizens of Pennsylvania, we sent over 10,000 constituent letters to members of the General Assembly, reiterating the very things we were promoting through our postcards.
We also implemented a public awareness new media campaign, highlighting community leaders who support the EITC, businesses who receive tax credits through the EITC, and families who receive EITC money. After creating a YouTube page, we sent every video to the legislature. We also activated reporters through Twitter, which gave us several media hits throughout the state—media hits in hometown newspapers of several important legislative decision makers.
Spontaneous rallies and planned media events were also crucial in defending the EITC in this budget cycle. When news traveled of a potential $35 million decrease to the $75 million program, we rallied; when it became apparent that cuts to tax credit programs were not going to be made equally, we rallied; when national figures—Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Newt Gingrich, and Al Sharpton—came to Philadelphia to find alternative ways to improve urban schools, we rallied. The media swarmed our rallies, resulting in positive local and statewide stories told from the perspectives of businesses, scholarship organizations, schools, and most importantly, children.
Of course, with all of our resources stretched, the end result is most important. The EITC Program was cut by $15 million this year—a far cry from the initial $35 million cut that was originally proposed in May. What lies in our future next year remains to be seen. And while we estimate that 6,000 students have lost scholarships because of these budget cuts, we remain extremely optimistic that over 38,000 students are receiving EITC scholarships and, ultimately, an education that is working for them.
