Families and students throughout Pennsylvania got their first glimpse of the news list of failing schools in the Keystone State. The Pennsylvania Department of Education published the list of the bottom 15 percent of schools based on combined scores in reading and math from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test. This year's list is significant because an additional $50 million will be available to students that reside in a failing school's geographical boundary for a scholarship to another public school or a private school, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Where are the majority of the failing schools and how many are on the list?
This year's list includes 414 schools throughout 74 Pennsylvania school districts, and according to the Associated Press, nearly 40 percent of the schools were in the Philadelphia City School District, which is the largest district in Pennsylvania. However, schools from several counties populate the list.
Where does the money for the scholarships come from?
Students wishing to pursue a transfer might be eligible for a scholarship from the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which is funded by donations from businesses that receive tax credits for those donations, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. As much as $50 million could be available for students in one of the schools in the bottom 15 percent choosing to seek other educational opportunities, but the exact amount depends on how much and how many businesses take advantage of the program. However, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program provides an additional $100 million of scholarship money to students, which will also fund the scholarship program, according to the AP.
What are the qualifications for the scholarships and how do you apply?
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, students must live within the geographical boundary of one of the 414 failing schools and meet certain income guidelines. Basically, families can earn up to $60,000 per year plus $12,000 per dependent to be eligible to receive a scholarship of $8,500 to attend another school. School districts must alert parents their presence on the list by Aug. 15, and then families will have to contact a separate scholarship organization to apply.
Will all the money be available for new students this fall?
Because the legislation that applied $50 million to scholarships for students in low achieving schools was part of the recently approved state budget, there is some concern that the entire amount will be available for student use before the new school term starts, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which means students and families should act fast to be certain of receiving funds should the desire to transfer be present.
Jason Gallagher is a longtime Pennsylvania resident. He has experiences in trends and developments in many regions from having lived in many parts of the Keystone State, and currently resides in the Pittsburgh area.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pennsylvania-ready-put-scholarship-program-failing-schools-test-190900477.html
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