Parental choice in education Action Alert
Thursday,April, 12 ,2007 Filed in: I-CAN
An amendment in HB 1001, budget bill, provides up to 35 percent credit against state tax liabilities for contributions made to a non-profit Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGO may use the funds raised under this program to pay tuition and other expenses for low-income students to attend a school of their parents’ choice. Students must qualify for free or reduced lunch in order to qualify for the scholarships.
I-CAN ACTION ALERT
Bill number: School Scholarship Tax Credit (HB 1001)
Description:
This legislation is modeled after similar programs that already exist in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. In Indianapolis, the Educational CHOICE Charitable Trust is the first privately funded scholarship granting organization in the country and currently serves over 1200 low-income students in Indianapolis. A tax credit will help additional SGOs to serve students in other parts of the state and to expand service to more students in Indianapolis.
Current Status: The amended bill passed the Senate and now must be reconciled with the House version. A conference committee will be formed to work out the differences.
Action requested:
Contact your Representative; ask that he/she support the School Scholarship Tax Credit; keep the program in the final budget bill.
Contact your Senator to thank them for adding the School Scholarship Tax Credit into the budget; ask them to keep this as part of the final bill.
Click here for e-mail addresses
Message:
School Scholarship Tax Credit program
- supports the right of parents to choose a school that best suits their children
- gives scholarships to those who are least able to exercise a choice in education
- will encourage charitable giving to education
- does not take money from public schools
- is constitutional and prevents state entanglement.