TO: The Honorable Josh Shapiro, Governor
The Honorable Dr. Khalid Mumin, Secretary of Education
The Honorable Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
DATE: Thursday, June 29th, 2023
SUBJECT: Lifeline Scholarships
As state budget negotiations progress, the Governor and members of the legislature have a unique opportunity to deliver true hope and opportunity to thousands of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable children.
The Lifeline Scholarship Program (HB 1432 and SB 795)—introduced by Reps. Clint Owlett and Martina White and Sens. Judy Ward and Anthony Williams —would help students trapped in Pennsylvania’s lowest-performing 15 percent of public schools by providing scholarships to attend a school of their choice.
We are encouraged that Governor Shapiro and many leaders in the legislature have continued to express support for Lifeline Scholarships, even amid unprecedented opposition.
Under the status quo, children across the commonwealth are falling behind. Among the 250,000 students trapped in failing schools across 39 counties in Pennsylvania, the majority are not proficient in math or English. Among elementary schools, a mere 7.6 percent of students are proficient in math; only 23.6 percent are proficient in English.
Thirty-three of the bottom 15 percent of high schools have zero students performing math at their grade level; six high schools have not a single student reading at their grade level. Minority, low-income students are overrepresented in these underperforming schools.
Without Lifeline Scholarships, we are setting our children up for failure before they even have an opportunity to succeed.
No student should remain trapped in a failing school because of their zip code.
Lifeline Scholarships would give all students access to an excellent education— regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status or their zip code.
We believe it is important to address some misinformation about Lifeline Scholarships that could threaten the educational opportunities of thousands of students.
Lifeline Scholarships do not take one cent of funding away from public schools.
Instead, this program would create a separate fund, allowing school districts to keep all state, federal, and local tax dollars, even when a Lifeline Scholarship recipient leaves a public school for a private one.
The truth is this program would save kids—and save public schools money. Lifeline Scholarships would result in smaller class sizes, which would mean more focused learning and more funding per student.
The program provides $5,000 and $10,000 scholarships for students who wish to leave their assigned public school—a fraction of the $21,300 per student that school districts receive.
The recent Commonwealth Court ruling said Pennsylvania’s funding system must ensure that “every student receives a meaningful opportunity to succeed.” Lifeline Scholarships are the way to deliver on that promise.
Lifeline Scholarships will give our most vulnerable students hope and the opportunity for a brighter future. It’s time we deliver an excellent education to all of Pennsylvania’s children.
Thank you for standing up for Pennsylvania’s students, families, and schools by supporting Lifeline Scholarships.
FROM:
INDIVIDUAL SIGNERS
Listed Alphabetically by Last Name. Affiliations for identification purposes only.
Rabbi Matthew Abelson
CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Bill Bennett
3RD U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
Troy Carter
VENICE MUSIC / ONE WAY OUT PA
Betsy DeVos
11TH U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
J Erving
EXECUTIVE VP SONY MUSIC/FOUNDER OF HUMAN RESOURCES MUSIC
Shawn Gee
FOUNDER, LIVE NATION URBAN
Kevin Hassett
DISTINGUISHED VISITING FELLOW HOOVER & FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS
Meek Mill
ARTIST/CO-FOUNDER REFORM ALLIANCE
Ryan Press
PRESIDENT, A&R AT WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC
Rev. Joshua C. Robertson
SENIOR PASTOR, THE ROCK CHURCH
ORGANIZATIONAL SIGNERS
Derrell Bradford
PRESIDENT
50CAN
Saul Anuzis
PRESIDENT
60 Plus Association
Lisa B. Nelson
CEO
ALEC Action
Phil Kerpen
PRESIDENT
American Commitment
Ashley Klingensmith
STATE DIRECTOR
Americans for Prosperity
– Pennsylvania
Grover Norquist
PRESIDENT
Americans for Tax Reform
Ryan Cantrell
NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
American Federation for Children
Philip Puleo
ACSIPA LIAISON
Association of Christian Schools International
Beth Ann Rosica
CHAIR
Back to Basics West Chester
Thomas A. Smith
PRINCIPAL/CAO
Bishop McCort Catholic High School
Robert Alt
PRESIDENT AND CEO
The Buckeye Institute
Jeanne Allen
FOUNDER & CEO
Center for Education Reform
Jim Saunders
PRESIDENT AND COFOUNDER
CEO America Lehigh Valley
Darla Romfo
PRESIDENT & CEO
Children’s Scholarship Fund
Keisha Jordan
PRESIDENT & CEO
Children’s Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia
Stephen Moore
CO-FOUNDER
Committee to Unleash Prosperity
Jennifer Stefano
TREASURER
Commonwealth Action
Nathan Benefield
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Commonwealth Foundation
Senator Jim DeMint
CHAIRMAN
Conservative Partnership Institute
Tom Shoemaker
PRESIDENT & CEO
Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School
Ms. Landis Erwin
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Crossroads Foundation
Marc LeBlond
DIRECTOR OF POLICY
EdChoice
Corey DeAngelis
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Education Freedom Institute
Dave Hardy
TREASURER
Excellent Schools PA
Ashley DeMauro Mullins
SENIOR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, NORTHEAST
ExcelinEd in Action
Adam Brandon
PRESIDENT
FreedomWorks
Najimah Roberson
PRESIDENT/FOUNDER
Harrisburg Families United
Dr. Matt Tarr
HEAD OF SCHOOL
High Point Classical Academy
Mario H. Lopez
PRESIDENT
Hispanic Leadership Fund
Bruce Robinson
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Independence Mission Schools
Hadley Heath Manning
VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY
Independent Women’s Voice
Susan J. Selby
CEO
Immanuel Christian School, Hazleton
Daniel Garza
PRESIDENT
The LIBRE Initiative
Kristie Dugan
PRESIDENT
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls
Rev. Aaron J. Anderson
CEO
Logos Academy York
Andy Phillips
FOUNDING CEO
Logos Academy Harrisburg
Kristen Tyagi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
National Coalition for Public School Options
Darlene Robbins
PRESIDENT
Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council
Luke Bernstein
PRESIDENT & CEO
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Dr. Anne Clark
CEO
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools
Sharon Sedlar
FOUNDER AND CEO
Pennsylvania Families for Education Choice
Thomas J. Shaheen
VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY
Pennsylvania Family Council
David Taylor
PRESIDENT & CEO
Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association
Steve Litz
BUSINESS MANAGER
Saint Andrew School – Drexel Hill
Tracie Sharp
PRESIDENT & CEO
State Policy Network
Karen Kerrigan
PRESIDENT & CEO
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
David Williams
PRESIDENT
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Charissa Mitchell
PRESIDENT
Threefold Education Association
Carol Platt Liebau
PRESIDENT
Yankee Institute for Public Policy
Craig Hulse
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Yes.Every.Kid