Help with scholarships

By Aldo Cavalli

Today, parents across Philadelphia brace for the School Reform Commission's final decision in regard to its plan to shutter approximately 29 schools in the Philadelphia School District.

Even with these closings and the expected $24.5 million in savings they are projected to generate each year as a result, the district will still face huge budget shortfalls - shortfalls that will continue to negatively impact our children's education.

However, there is hope. There is an opportunity to help Philadelphia public school students attend OSTC-registered private schools or non-failing public schools through the use of state tax dollars. We just need businesses to take advantage of this opportunity.

Last summer, the General Assembly passed a new program, the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTC), which was specifically designed to help families like the ones that will be displaced by school closings in Philadelphia. OSTC allows businesses to quickly and efficiently direct their state taxes to scholarship organizations, and these scholarships are a lifesaver to families whose children are in a failing public school, who weren't lucky enough to "win" the charter lottery, or, frankly, who can't afford a private-school education. However, out of $50 million in state funds set aside for these scholarships, only $13 million has been claimed.

Corporations and business-tax payers need to step up, and step up now. They can designate their state tax dollars to an approved scholarship organization, such as Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools or the Children's Scholarship Fund. These incremental dollars will bring additional educational funds to our city and directly provide financial support to the children who need it most.

As president of the Independence Mission Schools, a nonprofit organization that oversees independent private Catholic elementary schools in Philadelphia, I have seen first-hand the achievement, possibility, and hope our schools can create for students, for their families, and for the broader community.

While our children face more educational uncertainty and Philadelphia struggles with ever-tightening budgets, I hope and pray that more area businesses will direct their tax dollars to the OSTC program, which will immediately funnel state funds to our city's education system. Our children and our city deserve nothing less.