New Hope Scholarship Credit Bill Fails
Many low-income students will continue to be forced to attend historically under-performing schools because legislation failed in the House today, backers of the bill said.
Senate Bill 2093 would have created the New Hope Scholarship Credit. The bill would have offered tax credits to private individuals who donate to the created scholarship fund as a way to incentivize giving.
Only students who obtain free or reduced lunch and are attending a school that has been on the non-performing list for three or more years would have qualified.
“This is a sad day in Oklahoma. Once again our low-income, urban students are being punished academically because of their financial lot in life,” said Rep. Tad Jones, chairman of the House Education Committee. “This bill would have been null and void if all our schools raised their standards and got off the needs-improvement list.”
The legislation is needed because many Oklahoma students do not have the luxury to pick where they attend school, many of which have been on the needs improvement list for years with no sign of improvement in sight.
The fight will continue, supporters pledged today.
“All kids don’t learn the same, so why would we force them all into the same type of schools?” said Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa. “I will fight until I am pushed out of this building for kids who otherwise are unable to realize their full potential because of their financial situation.”
Senate Bill 2093 would have created the New Hope Scholarship Credit. The bill would have offered tax credits to private individuals who donate to the created scholarship fund as a way to incentivize giving.
Only students who obtain free or reduced lunch and are attending a school that has been on the non-performing list for three or more years would have qualified.
“This is a sad day in Oklahoma. Once again our low-income, urban students are being punished academically because of their financial lot in life,” said Rep. Tad Jones, chairman of the House Education Committee. “This bill would have been null and void if all our schools raised their standards and got off the needs-improvement list.”
The legislation is needed because many Oklahoma students do not have the luxury to pick where they attend school, many of which have been on the needs improvement list for years with no sign of improvement in sight.
The fight will continue, supporters pledged today.
“All kids don’t learn the same, so why would we force them all into the same type of schools?” said Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa. “I will fight until I am pushed out of this building for kids who otherwise are unable to realize their full potential because of their financial situation.”
Labels: Jabar Shumate, New Hope Scholarship Credit, Tad Jones
posted by Mike McCarville @ 7:25 PM
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