School choice tax credits pay off: Report

A recent analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation examined the impact of taxpayer-funded scholarships on nearly 78,000 private school students during the 2021-22 school year. The findings revealed that students utilizing these scholarships demonstrated higher academic proficiency compared to their public school peers. The report highlighted an inverse relationship between the number of scholarships awarded and the presence of low-achieving schools, indicating that the program effectively supports families in need. The average family income of scholarship recipients was significantly lower than the statewide median, with many families residing in the lowest-performing districts. Notably, 70% of these students identified as people of color, underscoring the demographic challenges faced by these communities. The scholarships, averaging $2,583 and $1,853 for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit respectively, have been shown to yield impressive academic results. Keisha Jordan, president and CEO of the Childrens Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia, reported that scholarship students outperformed their public school counterparts in both math and reading assessments. The statistics revealed that 61% of seventh-grade scholarship students read at or above proficiency, compared to only 38% in the School District of Philadelphia. Furthermore, 99% of these students graduated on time, with 72% enrolling in college. Despite these positive outcomes, critics argue that the achievement gaps stem from long-standing underfunding of public schools. They contend that reallocating public funds to private institutions exacerbates existing issues. The state's recent budget allocation of $811 million aims to address these disparities, with a focus on socioeconomic needs in funding distribution.