Many Philadelphia Schools Qualify For 'Low-Achieving' Tax Credits For Students
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released the list of "low-achieving" public schools in which students who can attend those schools may qualify for a new scholarship program funded by tax credits.
And more than half of the school buildings in the School District of Philadelphia are on the list.
The program is essentially a $50-million expansion of the existing Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, in which businesses receive a tax credit when they donate to scholarship programs for public school students.
Pennsylvania Department of Education spokesman Tim Eller says this program is different, targeting 414 school buildings in 74 districts.
"This program specifically targets students that are in low-achieving schools based upon combined math and reading scores in the statewide assessment, the PSSA," he tells KYW Newsradio.
Click to see the full list of schools (.pdf format)
Families who live within the boundaries of an eligible school must also meet income requirements: no greater than $60,000 plus $12,000 a year for each dependent member of the household.
