I am pleased to announce my plans to introduce groundbreaking legislation (The Educational Freedom for Families Act) aimed at ensuring every student in Pennsylvania has access to a high-quality education that truly meets their individual and family’s needs.

As we embark on the 2025 legislative session, it’s crucial that we continue our efforts to expand diverse school learning options for Pennsylvania families.

Educational freedom is a powerful tool that empowers parents and legal guardians to choose the best educational path for their children, whether through public, charter, private, or cyber homeschooling.

Currently, far too many families in Pennsylvania find themselves trapped in under performing school districts without the freedom to pursue alternative educational opportunities.

This legislation is designed to enhance educational opportunities for all students, regardless of income or geographic location. By expanding various flexible school options, we aim to foster healthy competition, improve educational outcomes, and ensure that every student receives a high-quality education that aligns with their unique learning style.

Key components of the proposed bill include:
 

• Support for Homeschooling Initiatives: Offering necessary resources and protections to families who take an active role in their child's education.
• Support for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): Allowing families to utilize state funds for private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses.
• Support for School Voucher Opportunities: Guaranteeing that families in districts with consistently under performing schools can transfer their children to higher-performing institutions, with a preference for lower-performing students.
• Expansion of Charter Schools: Providing more choices for parents and students, particularly in underserved communities.
• Option of Cyber Schools: Enhancing Cyber Schools options to accommodate the specific needs of families and children.
• Expansion of STEM Programs: Extending STEM programs into under performing schools to promote critical skills for future success.
• Initiation of Teacher Incentives: Introducing incentives such as loan forgiveness and bonuses based on improved student performance and standardized test scores, including PSSA, SAT, and ACT.

Research supports that not only do these various school options lead to increased academic performance, higher graduation rates, and greater overall student satisfaction while empowering parents but also increases the performance levels of failing schools as well thereby creating an overall better educational environment within the public educational school system.

“A Rising Tide Lifts all Boats”!

By providing families the choice to select the right school for their children, we can help level the playing field and provide every student with the opportunity to succeed.

Together, let’s work towards a brighter future for all our students!
 
I encourage you to join me in supporting this vital piece of legislation as a co-sponsor!

If you have any questions regarding this bill, please feel free to contact either Aaron Bashir (abashir@pasen.gov)  or Donald Beishl  (dbeishl@pasen.gov) in my office.