(HARRISBURG, PA – July 9, 2010) The Garcia Family sacrifices so that their daughter, Carmen, can attend a private school. Carmen will be a junior in September and receives an EITC scholarship to attend Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg.
”My parents make a great sacrifice to send me to this school but the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program really plays a part in making it possible,” says Carmen Garcia. “It’s so nice to know that there are people out there that care about my education.
The Garcia Family is one of five families from across Pennsylvania taking part in the REACH Foundation’s Visions of Choice campaign sponsored by Sovereign Bank. The goal of the campaign is to show parents, legislators and the general public what exactly is meant by the term “school choice” in Pennsylvania. The campaign strives to put a face on the school choice movement by telling the success stories of several families who have chosen different school choice options.
Carmen is able to attend the school of her parents’ choice because of an EITC scholarship that she receives from Neumann Scholarship Fund. Neumann Scholarship Fund is an organization that is approved to distribute scholarships using EITC dollars. Through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, businesses can direct up to 90% of their tax dollars to state-approved organizations, like Neumann Scholarship Fund. Instead of sending their tax dollars to Harrisburg, the EITC allows businesses to invest in education and ensure the success of Pennsylvania’s future leaders.
Pennsylvania’s EITC Program is well-known throughout the country and is regarded as a national model. The bi-partisan program is continuously thought of as the most successful private-public partnership in the Commonwealth. Since 2001, over 4,000 businesses have qualified for the EITC, donating $460 million for scholarships to over 200,000 kids and funding thousands of public education initiatives. This year, REACH estimates that 40,000 kids, including Carmen, will receive scholarships to attend the school that works for them. Because of budget cuts last year, an estimated 6,000 scholarships were lost. Additional budget cuts this year could further reduce the number of available scholarships.
By definition, school choice means allowing every parent to send their child to the school that best fits their child’s educational needs, regardless of income or zip code. In Pennsylvania, school choice options include charter schools, private schools, homeschooling, or other public schools as well as the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC).
What is the REACH Foundation? Founded in 1991, REACH is Pennsylvania’s grassroots coalition for school choice. For more information on the REACH Alliance & Foundation, visit www.paschoolchoice.org.
What is Neumann Scholarship Fund? Founded in 1918, Catholic High School was the first secondary school offering a faith based education of the Diocese of Harrisburg. In 1949, Bishop George Leech renamed the beloved school to Bishop McDevitt High School (McD). The 2001 formation of the Neumann Scholarship Foundation through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC) enables a Catholic college-preparatory, coeducational school, encompassing students of diverse intellectual, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. McD strives to nurture the whole person by promoting a quality education rooted in Gospel. For more information, visit www.hbgdiocese.org
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