The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

Advancing Milton and Rose D. Friedman's Vision of School Choice for All Children

School Choice in Pennsylvania

Summary

Pennsylvania has two private school choice programs (tax-credit scholarships). The state does have a charter school law. Pennsylvania enables public virtual schooling. Limited open enrollment exists, only for interdistrict public school choice.

Laws and Regulations Governing Private Schools

Constitutionality

Both tax credit and voucher programs are school choice options for Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Constitution contains a Compelled Support Clause and a Blaine Amendment.

The latter restricts the use of funds “raised for the public schools” but can be avoided entirely by funding vouchers from other government revenue. State case law demonstrates a strong adherence to federal Establishment Clause precedent and includes a distinction between “appropriations” and “payments for services rendered,” which should ensure voucher legislation’s compliance with the Blaine Amendment.

–Quote from the Institute for Justice (April 2007)

School Choice Programs

Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program

Enacted 2012 • Launched 2012

Pennsylvania provides tax credits for corporate contributions to Scholarship Organizations (SOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships. A company may claim a tax credit worth 75 percent of its contribution (90 percent if it commits to... Read More

Educational Improvement Tax Credit

Enacted 2001 • Launched 2001

Pennsylvania provides tax credits for corporate contributions to Scholarship Organizations (SOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships, or Educational Improvement Organizations, nonprofits that support innovative programs in public... Read More

Research

The School Starter Checklist: Meeting the Private Education Regulations in States with School Choice

10/30/2014

Entrepreneurs looking to start a private school might behoove themselves by focusing on states with private school choice programs. This checklist assists by examining the regulations affecting private schools in states with such programs.   This... Read More

Public Rules on Private Schools: Measuring the Regulatory Impact of State Statutes and School Choice Programs

5/30/2014

Is regulatory creep a fate that awaits all school choice programs? With the number of those programs doubling over the past five years, the need for context and understanding is critical.   This report provides a framework for understanding the... Read More

The Greenfield School Revolution and School Choice

6/5/2012

The recent explosion of educational innovation has focused primarily on creating wholly new models of what a school can be. From KIPP to Carpe Diem, education is entering a revolutionary period driven by the reinvention of the entire school rather than... Read More

 

News

8/15/2013 Sharing your story in “The ABCs” can be as easy as one, two, three
8/6/2013 Stateline | Tax Dollars for Private School Tuition Gain in States
10/25/2012 Philadelphia Tribune | School Choice Program Gets $99K Grant
7/3/2012 New School Choice Program Created in Pennsylvania
4/6/2012 AP | School Vouchers Spark Growing Court Fights in US
11/3/2011 Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Georgia Can Return to Leading Role in Giving Students Choices
10/27/2011 Pennsylvania Senate Passes Voucher Bill
10/18/2011 The Reporter | In Support of Corbett’s Educational Reform Package
10/4/2011 Hiner | DVAU School Voucher Debate - Philadelphia - Sept 24 2011
9/30/2011 Showdown in Pennsylvania
8/8/2011 Philadelphia Inquirer | Finding That Vouchers Have Little Impact on Student Achievement Do Not Deter Advocates
7/30/2011 Enlow | Friedman's Dream Unleashed
7/28/2011 Enlow | Is 2011 Milton Friedman's Year of School Choice?
7/5/2011 Wall Street Journal | The Year of School Choice
6/28/2011 Presidents Comments
4/29/2011 Enlow | School Choice: Alive and Well
4/28/2011 Washington Times | States Leaving Feds Behind on School Reforms
4/19/2011 USA Today | Why School Vouchers are Worth a Shot
2/28/2011 Why 2011 will be a Year of Growth for School Choice
2/8/2011 Forbes.com | It's Time For School Choice In Pennsylvania
10/14/2010 Enlow | Robert Enlow's Testimony Before The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee
9/2/2010 Enlow | Robert Enlow on Lowman Henry's Newsmakers
4/14/2010 Observer-Reporter | Report: Pension funding worrisome
9/28/2009 Enlow | School choice would reshape U.S. education
8/6/2009 In Honor of Milton Friedman, ‘Father of School Choice’
5/5/2008 Friedman Foundation Gives School Choice in Pa. A C+
3/3/2008 Expand school choice options
10/1/2007 Michael Coulter
8/1/2007 Economist's Legacy of School Choice Celebrated