Rep. Martina White of Philadelphia announced on April 10 that she has joined U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon in urging Pennsylvania’s governor to opt into a new federal tax credit program aimed at expanding educational opportunities for K-12 students.
The proposed program would allow taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 when they donate to approved scholarship organizations, which help cover costs such as tuition, tutoring, and school supplies. White said the initiative builds on existing state programs and noted that 27 other governors have already chosen to participate.
“Secretary McMahon recognizes the importance of growing our state’s already robust options for families seeking the best educational opportunities for their children,” White said. “We’ve really set the standard for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, so it should be a no-brainer for us to take advantage of this federal tax credit developed, in large part, courtesy of our own Sen. Dave McCormick.”
McMahon spoke at a press conference about how families with choices can address concerns regarding class size, test scores, security, curriculum, and learning styles.
More than 250,000 students in Pennsylvania currently attend schools outside traditional public systems because their parents are seeking better options tailored to their needs. The use of this new federal tax credit would expand those opportunities further.
“For parents, school choice is not about politics. It is about finding a learning environment where their child can succeed,” White said.
