School Choice in Pennsylvania: Governor Tom Corbett's Educational Reform Plan

School choice is about more than education; it's also about opportunity, justice and parental rights

Governor Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania is on the right side of real educational reform in the United States. The Governors educational reform agenda includes more charter schools, educational vouchers for low income families, increased tax credits and a revised approach to teacher evaluations

P>YORK, Pa. (Catholic Online) - Governor Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania is on the right side of real educational reform in the United States. On Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at the Lincoln Charter elementary school he announced his Educational Reform Plan. Lincoln Charter is in a working class neighborhood. It is a former public school which converted to a charter school.

The Governors educational reform agenda includes more charter schools, educational vouchers for low income families, increased tax credits and a revised approach to teacher evaluations. During his announcement the Governor said "I recognize that there are many good schools in Pennsylvania. But there are also failing schools, and we have to recognize this."

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. of Philadelphia is the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. He is a strong advocate of parental choice in education. He recently told the annual Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference meeting in Harrisburg: 

"The debate over school vouchers and an increase in EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credits) funding is a pivotal moment for education in Pennsylvania. School choice is about more than education; it's also about opportunity, justice and parental rights. Its goal is always the same-to empower parents to educate their children as they judge best, and to provide poor families with alternatives and real opportunities to succeed."

School Choice affirms that Parents should make the choice and State and Federal Government should support them. After all, they are the first government in the home. The current overly federalized approach to education in the United States is failing. Statistics and experience confirm the obvious. It is time for a change and parental (school) choice is the change that is needed. Governor Tom Corbett is on the winning side of history and has put children, education and families first. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms the right of parents to choose a school for their children, "As those first responsible for the education of their children, parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to their own convictions. This right is fundamental. As far as possible parents have the duty of choosing schools that will best help them in their task as Christian educators. Public authorities have the duty of guaranteeing this parental right and of ensuring the concrete conditions for its exercise. "(CCC#2229)

Parental Choice in education is about recognizing the family as the first school and first vital cell of human society. Parents are the first teachers of their children and all education begins in the home. It is the right of parents to choose where their children go to school. That choice should include the full array of options, public, private, parochial, charter and home schools, no matter what the economic status of those parents. It is better for the children, better for society and more economically efficient.

On October 4, 2011, the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania issued a statement clearly supporting educational reform, "School Choice is the Right Choice for Pennsylvania's Families" in which they said:

"The Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania see school choice as a defining social justice issue of our society. Legislation currently being considered in Harrisburg could herald a new, more just era for education in Pennsylvania - an era in which we focus on the ideal educational environment for each student, not on a mandatory system in which students are assigned to a school based solely on geographic location.

"The current treatment of these children, particularly children from low-income families, is unjust and inequitable. Families are often prevented from accessing the educational options that would be best for them because of economic or social barriers. School choice legislation that includes vouchers and an increase to EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) reinforces that parents - not the state - are the primary educators of their children.

"Parents and educators know that each pupil has a different style of learning and each family has its own educational values. School choice will allow families to pick the school that is best for their children and will allow a wider group of people to access non-public schools. Further, school choice will increase the amount that public schools can spend per pupil, will free up funds to expand the reach of EITC to more middle class families, and will return unused money to the state coffers.  These are just a few of many benefits, but it is clear that school choice will improve the education of countless Pennsylvanians, whether a family chooses public or private school. Is that not a common goal upon which we can all agree?

"Catholic schools play a vital role in the Commonwealth: our over 500 schools have educated millions of intelligent, active and community-minded Pennsylvanians.  These schools educate both Catholics and non-Catholics in an academically excellent and nurturing environment. This essential service not only helps to create new generations of productive and engaged citizens, but also saves over $4 billion tax dollars annually.

"Catholic and private schools already participate in the marketplace of education.  We must meet the high expectations of parents, for they have the freedom to withdraw their students and choose a different school if they feel it will better meet their needs. Current school choice legislation places all educational institutions into this marketplace and recognizes the moral obligation of educating each and every child to their potential.

"The public schools of the state of Pennsylvania and the fine teachers and administrators who labor there are our collaborators in fulfilling this obligation, not our adversaries.  School choice is not a public versus non-public school issue; it is a family and child issue.  Each family should have a full range of educational options within its grasp; this is a civil right for every parent.

"The Catholic bishops of Pennsylvania support school choice legislation that includes a voucher program and an increase in the successful EITC program. We have reached a critical moment in the debate over school choice. Now is the time for the Pennsylvania legislature to ensure that ideal educational opportunities are accessible and available to all. There are few priorities more important than educating for the future."

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online