Will PA Add Education Savings Accounts To School Choice Mix?

By Emily Leayman | From Watchdog.org

Nearly 20 states are expected to consider some form of education savings account measure during their 2017 legislative sessions. Pennsylvania, with bigger Republican majorities in both chambers, will almost certainly be one of those.

Five states have enacted ESA programs, which allow families to use their students’ share of public funds for tuition, tutoring and other education expenses. An additional 12 states have considered legislation in 2016.

“ESAs are exploding all over the country, and Pennsylvania is no different as a result of that,” Robert Enlow, president of EdChoice, told Watchdog.org. “I think you’re beginning to see states … take this on and it’s not like a voucher fight. It’s really about subsidies for families, not subsidies for schools.”

Under Republican leadership, the House Education Committee held a hearing on ESAs in September. Republicans will hold larger majorities in both the state House and Senate next year, going from 119 to 122 in the 203-member House and from 31 to 34 in the 50-member Senate.

James Paul, a senior policy analyst at the Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation, expects the legislature will take up an ESA bill designed for students with special needs.

“Depending on the leadership and composition of both Education committees, this should be achievable,” he told Watchdog.org in an email. “For the sake of thousands of Pennsylvania families who would benefit from a customized education — rather than a one-size-fits-all approach — I surely hope lawmakers move quickly.”

ESAs are not limited to low-income families, but face other restrictions. Four of the five existing programs limit eligibility to special needs, and students have to come from the public school system.

Pennsylvania is likely to include that restriction, at least at first, according to Enslow.  “You can phase in over time … private school students to ameliorate the cost,” he said.

He added that states with other types of school choice can still implement ESAs. Pennsylvania has two tax credit scholarship programs, which House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) hopes to expand next year. “You shouldn’t have one-size-fits-all choice, just like you shouldn’t have one-size fits-all schools,” said Enlow.

The state House and Senate will reconvene on Jan. 3, 2017.