Pennsylvania’s current education system is leaving too many students behind. Fewer than half of Pennsylvania eighth graders are proficient in reading, and more than two-thirds are below grade level in math. Far too many students are leaving school unprepared for success after graduation.

Families across Pennsylvania are asking for more options, more flexibility, and more opportunities for their children. That demand continues to grow, yet thousands of students remain trapped on scholarship waiting lists or assigned to schools that are not meeting their needs. Our priority must always be student outcomes, not protecting systems that are failing to deliver for our children.

Every child is unique, and no single educational environment works for every student. Families deserve the ability to choose the learning environment that best fits their child, whether that is a traditional K-12 school, public charter school, private school, career-focused program, or specialized educational setting.

This Educational Opportunity Omnibus builds upon Pennsylvania’s successful education tax credit programs, creates new pathways to expand educational opportunity, and helps families across the Commonwealth afford the learning environment that best meets their child’s needs—all without taking a single dollar away from our public schools. This legislation would:

Expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program
Increase the EITC program by $200 million to help eliminate scholarship waiting lists to ensure more students have access to a school that meets their needs. In 2024 alone, more than 68,000 students were denied scholarships due to insufficient funding.

Encourage Greater Private Sector Participation in the EITC Program
Simplify the EITC program by increasing the tax credit available to participating businesses to 99 percent. This change would create a stronger incentive for private sector contributions, ensure similar tax treatment for all EITC donations, and help address the growing, unfunded scholarship waitlist.

Create the Pennsylvania Learning Investment Tax Credit
Establish a direct tax credit to parents for educational expenses, helping families cover costs such as tuition, tutoring, after-school programs, curriculum materials, and special education services. This proposal supports students across all schools, including public, private, charter, and home school settings because educational opportunity should not depend on a family’s zip code or income level.

Create the Displaced Student Scholarship Program
Provide scholarships to students assigned to overcrowded schools or displaced by school closures resulting from consolidations and changes made under a school district facilities plan. Students should never lose access to a safe and effective learning environment because of circumstances entirely outside of their control.

Ensure Pennsylvania Opts-In to the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Program
The new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit was modeled after successful scholarship programs like Pennsylvania’s EITC because these programs demostrate meaningful results for students and families. This federal program presents a no-cost opportunity to dramatically expand scholarship access for students across Pennsylvania. However, Pennsylvania families cannot benefit unless the Commonwealth formally opts into the program — a decision that currently rests with Governor Shapiro.

To date, a bipartisan group of 30 states have already opted in, while Pennsylvania remains on the sidelines as the deadline approaches. If Pennsylvania participates, the Commonwealth could unlock up to $1 billion in additional scholarship funding at no cost to state taxpayers. If Pennsylvania refuses to opt in, Pennsylvania taxpayers who make a contribution will still receive the federal tax credit, but those scholarship dollars will instead benefit students in other states.

This provision, previously introduced by Rep. Gleim as House Bill 1763, would require the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to immediately notify the United States Department of the Treasury that Pennsylvania elects to participate in the federal program. The legislation would also require DCED to provide a comprehensive list of eligible Pennsylvania scholarship organizations that meet federal requirements.

Taken together, these reforms would significantly expand educational opportunity across Pennsylvania. Every child deserves access to a learning environment that gives them the best chance to succeed. This legislation takes meaningful steps toward expanding those opportunities for families across the Commonwealth, while ensuring that no public school funding is reduced or redirected.

Please join in cosponsoring this critical piece of legislation.