As the fate of the Education Investment Tax Credit was about to be decided in Albany, N.Y., this week, new support was added to the crescendo of popularity that this proposal enjoys. Left to popular acclaim, this proposal is a shoo-in. Unfortunately, the opposition, most notably the New York State Teachers’ Union, has ramped up its voice in an attempt to deny equal opportunity to all New York students.
A NY Daily News editorial called the tax credit proposal “a promising and creative” way to finance education. But in a more realistic tone, it also points out that “the concept faces rougher sledding in the Democratic-led Assembly due to predictable opposition from the teachers unions, which falsely portray the credit as a voucher system that would drain funds from public schools.” The editorial rightly explains that the tax credit would actually mean more money for public schools as well as parochial schools.
“Best of all, individual New Yorkers – not politicians – would have the final say on how best to invest the cash,” it said.
Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, writing in The New York Post, said: “I come from a family with strong faith-based convictions. Whether you are religious or not, the reality is that many of our black and Latino families in our communities – including an increasing number of non-Catholics – look to the parochial schools or private schools or other alternatives for their children.”
He also realizes that we are quickly losing these options because increasing costs are leading to fewer students, which eventually leads to the closing or merging of schools.
The Education Investment Tax Credit makes private schools more affordable to all students, regardless of their ability to pay tuition. It’s a part of the population that needs help. In school year 2012-2013, the Futures in Education Foundation in Brooklyn and Queens helped 6,159 students with scholarships. Those families who received assistance had average family incomes of less than $27,000.
However, the diocese saw $11 million in unfulfilled requests, consisting of applications partially fulfilled and more than 2,000 applications completely unfulfilled.
The proposed tax credit would apply to anyone who makes a donation to a scholarship fund such as Futures in Education. It also would assist public school teachers who use money from their own pockets to buy things such as classroom supplies.
The bill already has the support of the State Senate. In the Assembly, it also enjoys considerable support, but it has not been brought to the floor by the leadership for discussion.
We need to demonstrate overwhelming support for the bill so that Gov. Andrew Cuomo can feel empowered to include this bill in his budget proposal. Parents of Catholic school students have been asked to make last-minute phone calls to their state representatives to show their desire for this bill so that the governor can stand up to the teachers’ unions.
