There is a bill currently pending in Albany that would benefit both public and parochial schools, thus expanding parents’ ability to choose the right schools for their children. The bill, which has passed the State Senate (55-4), is working its way through the N.Y.S. Assembly. It would make tax credits available to those who donate to scholarship funds, such as our own Futures in Education here in Brooklyn and Queens.
The proposal is called the Education Investment Tax Credit Bill. Anyone who makes a donation to a public school or to a private scholarship fund – like Futures in Education – would receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.
Everyone benefits from this plan. More money flows into public schools. Donations to private funds would allow more children to receive financial aid to attend parochial schools. And it’s all done without any raise in local property taxes. The bill simply recognizes people who want to help education.
Enrollment in Catholic schools is flat right now. More and more parents are unable to afford the tuition because of the rising costs of living in New York, continued recession and in some cases, parents still feeling the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
“The proposed Education Investment Tax Credit would boost contributions to scholarships for students who want to attend Catholic schools,” said Nicholas Vendikos, director of development of Futures in Education. “The new donations for these scholarships would only help us in our mission of assisting families who struggle to afford a quality education.”
To pressure some local politicians, a huge rally was held this past week at the Westchester County Center to show the public’s support for the Education Investment Act. Among the presentations was a taped message from Cardinal Timothy Dolan who pointed out that everybody will win if this bill is enacted. Society, educational institutions and families all will benefit.
Politicians, teachers’ union leaders, Catholic and Jewish school leaders and even a student spoke at the rally, urging passage.
Assemblyman Gary Pretlow of Westchester pointed out that his elementary school, St. Gabriel’s, East Elmhurst, had to close because of the rising costs of education. He supports the bill because he doesn’t want to see another school be forced to shut its doors.
The most poignant words came from Illeanesis Menendez, a freshman at Iona College, who simply said, “My Catholic education has made all the difference.” She detailed how her mother struggled with several jobs to pay half the tuition in the Catholic schools. The other half came from the Children’s Scholarship Fund. She aspires to be a lawyer.
The Education Investment Tax Credit Bill is an investment in everybody’s future. It’s a chance for Albany to show its support for the education of all children.
Politicians cannot hide behind any separation of church-state issues here. There is no constitutional barrier to this bill. It simply helps those who want to help education and those who want to get an education.
To find out more about the bill, log on to www.investined.org.
Want to do something to help save Catholic schools as well as Catholic education? This is your opportunity. Please let your assembly member know of your support for the bill. Call, e-mail, write and visit your representative to help get this done.