Saturday, March 26, 2005
Update 1 From The Alliance For School Choice
NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE MOMENTUM GROWS AS ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURES PASS SCHOOL CHOICE BILLS
PHOENIX: Demonstrating the growing momentum of the national school choice movement, two state legislatures passed school choice bills Thursday. The Alliance for School Choice applauds the states for taking another step forward for educational opportunities.
The Arizona scholarship tax credit bill offers income tax benefits to companies that contribute to scholarship funds for low-income children transferring from public to private schools. The New Mexico bill provides $5 million to implement a pilot pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds in high-poverty areas with low-performing schools.
"Not all children profit from the same learning environment and these programs recognize that, giving parents more educational options for their children," declared Clint Bolick, president and general counsel of the Alliance for School Choice, the Phoenix-based organization that leads the national effort to support school choice programs that expand opportunities for economically disadvantaged children.
Arizona currently has the nation's oldest tuition tax credit system, providing dollar-for-dollar tax credits to individuals and married couples (capped at $500 and $625 respectively) who make donations to school tuition organizations. The corporate tax credit would provide scholarships up to $4,200 for low-income children in grades K-8 and $5,500 for grades 9-12. The bill will now go to Gov. Napolitano.
The New Mexico program includes public and private schools. Advocates and policymakers aim to expand the program to all of the state's four-year-olds. Gov. Bill Richardson is expected to sign the bill in the next few weeks.
PermaLink | 5:06 PM |
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PHOENIX: Demonstrating the growing momentum of the national school choice movement, two state legislatures passed school choice bills Thursday. The Alliance for School Choice applauds the states for taking another step forward for educational opportunities.
The Arizona scholarship tax credit bill offers income tax benefits to companies that contribute to scholarship funds for low-income children transferring from public to private schools. The New Mexico bill provides $5 million to implement a pilot pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds in high-poverty areas with low-performing schools.
"Not all children profit from the same learning environment and these programs recognize that, giving parents more educational options for their children," declared Clint Bolick, president and general counsel of the Alliance for School Choice, the Phoenix-based organization that leads the national effort to support school choice programs that expand opportunities for economically disadvantaged children.
Arizona currently has the nation's oldest tuition tax credit system, providing dollar-for-dollar tax credits to individuals and married couples (capped at $500 and $625 respectively) who make donations to school tuition organizations. The corporate tax credit would provide scholarships up to $4,200 for low-income children in grades K-8 and $5,500 for grades 9-12. The bill will now go to Gov. Napolitano.
The New Mexico program includes public and private schools. Advocates and policymakers aim to expand the program to all of the state's four-year-olds. Gov. Bill Richardson is expected to sign the bill in the next few weeks.
PermaLink | 5:06 PM |
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