Updated: In the news: Committee OKs Choice Bill
The Daily News Record in Harrisonburg reported on Delegate Chris Saxman’s school choice bill, HB1965, being approved by the House Finance Committee on Monday.
A plan by Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, to help give residents a choice about where to send their children to school passed the House of Delegates Finance Committee on Monday.
Committee member Del. Matt Lohr, R-Broadway, was among the dozen of delegates who supported the bill. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee.
Saxman is proposing a tax credit for businesses and individuals who contribute to eligible public school foundations and scholarship foundations.
SWAC-Girl also mentions this story on her blog today. She writes:
Another hurdle has been passed by Del. Chris Saxman’s (R-Staunton) school choice bill that was supported by Del. Matt Lohr (R-Broadway). Now it goes to the Appropriations Committee.
School Choice Virginia Applauds Favorable Action on HB1965
January 26, 2009
School Choice Virginia Applauds Favorable Action on HB1965
– Delegate Chris Saxman’s School Choice Measure Approved By House Finance Committee —
RICHMOND – Today in Richmond, the House Finance Committee voted 12-9 in support of Delegate Chris Saxman’s (R-Staunton) HB1965: Public/Private Education Investment Tax Credit. Following the approval of the bill, the Committee then referred the bill to the House Appropriations Committee to consider the fiscal impact of the measure.
HB1965 creates individual and business tax credits for donations made to qualifying scholarship organizations, which award scholarships for students to attend the public or private school of their choice. The legislation also provides the tax credits for donations to public school foundations as well. HB1965 is similar to school choice legislation that has been approved by the House of Delegates in each of the past four legislative sessions.
“I am very pleased that the House Finance Committee has again acted favorably on legislation that will be an important first step to ensure that every child in Virginia has the opportunity to succeed and to receive an education that will best meet their unique learning needs,” said Delegate Saxman. “In addition to considering the benefits school choice can provide students, in this difficult budget year, I think it is also extremely important that we also look at the cost-savings that this program can have for the Commonwealth. For example, Florida recently found that their similar tax credit program saves the state $1.49 for every dollar invested. It’s a win-win program.”
“Across the country, we see states and localities embracing school choice as a way to improve education for all students, and we are committed to making those choices as reality here in Virginia,” said School Choice Virginia Executive Director Whitney Duff. “From Florida to Pennsylvania, Ohio to Arizona, D.C. to Milwaukee, communities are breaking away from the status quo, one-size-fits-all model of education, to give families more options for meeting their children’s educational needs, and the results are proving the success of these programs- both for students and for taxpayers. It is time that we embrace the diversity of Virginia’s students embrace the diversity of Virginia’s students, and implement these forward-thinking reforms to give every student has the best chance at success- regardless of parental income- be that public, private, parochial, charter or home-schooling.”
School Choice Virginia is an organization working to expand educational choices for Virginia families to ensure every child has the opportunity to receive the education that best meets their unique and individual needs. As a 501(c)4, School Choice Virginia is non-partisan and can support specific legislation. In addition, School Choice Virginia works increase awareness of school choice initiatives and to demonstrate to elected leaders on all levels the broad-based support for educational reforms. Visit us online at www.SchoolChoiceVA.com.
###
UPDATED: Some Virginia school choice bills for 2009
The 2009 General Assembly session is in full swing. Here are a few of the school choice bills up for consideration here in Virginia this year. Let us know your thoughts!
- HB 1965 Public/Private Education Investment Tax Credit (Delegate Chris Saxman)
- HB 2104 Students with Disabilities Tuition Assistance Grant Program (Delegate Bill Janis)
- SB 956/HB1985 Autism Tuition Assistance Grant Program (Senator Walter Stosch, Delegate John O’Bannon)
- SB 1221 Businesses; tax credits for donations to nonprofit organizations providing educational funding (Senator Mark Obenshain)
UPDATE: We also wanted to mention Delegate Bob Marshall’s HJ641: School choice programs; joint subcommittee to study programs for secondary school students.
Unfortunately with this year’s budget, it appears that new studies will not be approved, however, we appreciate Delegate Marshall’s efforts to provide the Commonwealth further study and consideration of the benefits and impacts of greater school choice for secondary school students.
We will continue to add updates with any additional legislations.
2009 General Assembly Session Underway
It’s finally here! The 2009 Virginia General Assembly session has officaly begun.
This year’s “short-session” will certainly be a fast-paced and action-packed 45 days. We’ll be doing our part to keep you up to date on all the latests happenings from Richmond.
For more on this year’s General Assembly, visit their website at: http://legis.virginia.gov. There is lots of information available, including information on how to find and contact your legislator (and encourage them to support school choice!).
In a new addition this year, you can watch online live broadcasts of the House floor sessions (which generally begin every day at noon).
Watch the House session online here.
The Senate floor sessions will also be shown online here.
We’ll be adding more updates from Richmond soon!
Thomas Jefferson Institute Reports “Black Neighborhoods Support More Parental Options”
One of our partners here at School Choice Virgina, the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, recently announced the results of a survey they conducted with the Black Alliance for Educational Options on the issue of school choice.
Their survey was conducted with more than 2,200 voters in majority African-American voting precincts in the Petersburg, Richmond and Norfolk areas of Virginia. The results, released last week, show that more than 76% of the voters in these areas support school choice for parents.
Support for other educational options, including tax credits, charter schools and scholarships for students with disabilities, is significant among parents and non-parents.
To view the City-by-City results of the survey, click here.
As we have noted before, school choice is an issue that crosses partisan and racial lines. We hope that the legislators who represent these districts will take note of the results of this survey and listen to their constituents when school choice issues come before them in the upcoming General Assembly session.
Surprise!
Okay, so maybe it comes as little surprise to those of us who have been advocating for school choice for some time, but in a new study released by the C. D. Howe Institute shows what we have been saying for years- “Competition Improves Performance.”
In the Heartland Institute’s January 2009 edition of School Reform News, it is reported (once again) that “when schools have to fight for funding, students—and taxpayers—get more for their money in the form of improved scores on standardized tests.”
“The study shows that when schools have to fight for public funding by attracting students, those schools compete and students perform better,” said Ben Dachis, a policy analyst at C. D. Howe, which released the study in October.
No surprise for us here, but another nice piece of evidence of how school choice works for students, for families, and for taxpayers, as we get ready to start a new year, and a new Virginia General Assembly Session!
