PSEA joins 24 other education and advocacy organizations to oppose latest tuition voucher bill

For further information contact:
Chris Lilienthal (717) 255-7134
David Broderic (717) 255-7169

HARRISBURG, PA (March 29, 2022) – Pennsylvania State Education Association President Rich Askey today joined 24 other members of the Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers coalition to encourage state representatives to oppose House Bill 2169, the latest in a long list of proposals that would divert taxpayer dollars from public schools to spend on unaccountable tuition vouchers for private and religious schools.

The House Education Committee voted on House Bill 2169 today.

“House Bill 2169 represents yet another ideological push to weaken public schools and privatize the public education system,” Askey said. “It would take money from school districts with the most student needs and give it to private and religious schools without any real accountability for how the money is spent. This is another irresponsible tuition voucher proposal that will end up hurting Pennsylvania’s students, not helping them.”

According to Askey, House Bill 2169:

• Would cost $170 million a year if only 10% of eligible students seek a voucher, taking taxpayer money from the very districts that are most underfunded.
• Lacks academic accountability for private and religious schools that receive tuition vouchers. The only form of academic accountability in the bill is a parent satisfaction survey.
• Directs the Pennsylvania Treasury Department to administer the program, a state agency with no experience in K-12 education and with no infrastructure or staff to implement the program, making it ripe for fraudulent expenses that could drain millions of dollars from taxpayers.

PSEA joined with 24 other members of the Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers coalition and sent a letter to state representatives, outlining the reasons why they should oppose House Bill 2169. Excerpts from the letter follow. View the full letter here.

“’Lifeline scholarships are just the latest iteration of school vouchers that will siphon precious taxpayer resources away from public schools, and send those resources to private schools, higher education institutions, and entities that are not accountable to the public for their decisions or results,” the letter pointed out.

“Not only could school districts’ state aid be sent to unaccountable private schools, but such money could also be diverted for higher education, tutoring, uniforms, textbooks, curriculum, test fees, hardware and internet services, and other expenses approved by the Department of the Treasury.

“There are no income limits for families to receive the voucher, which means the voucher can subsidize a wealthier family’s private school tuition.

“HB 2169 also fails to establish legitimate academic accountability for the voucher program. In fact, the only source of academic accountability is a parent satisfaction survey administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury.”

An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 178,000 active and retired educators and school employees, student teachers, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.