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Senate floor vote on SB 1 - school vouchers
The Senate is expected to vote today on SB 1 — the bill that, when originally drafted, would have provided a tuition voucher to low-income students. The bill was recently amended, raising the income eligibility, and effectively removing the "low-income" designation. The new version expands the scope of the bill, yet adds no accountability provisions, nor does it remove any of the existing discrimination provisions.
We have consistently documented the myriad problems with this bill, beginning with its legality. In addition, a large coalition of local and national groups have organized against this legislation.
We'll going to document the Senate vote today here on PA School Talk. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this important piece of legislation.
Tags: Pennsylvania, SB1, Senate, vouchers
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on -
Getting started now...
No Sen. Williams today. Very interesting.
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Permalink Reply by Nofre Vaquer on -
I guess SB1 will be next?
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on
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I think so. Lots of resolutions right now.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Johnson on -
Thanks for the link to Pennsylvanian's Opposed to Vouchers. I wasn't aware of this.
I'm interesed in finding out how my Senator, Andy Dinniman will vote. He said he'd only pass it with certain amendments.
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on
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Hopefully, we'll find out today, Christine.
There's a lot of ceremony happening right now: Resolutions and introductions.
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Permalink Reply by Sandy Zelno on -
Do we know what amendments Senator Dinniman wants?
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on
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He didn't want to lose the "failing schools" criteria that exists in year one and year two of the bill, but is removed in the third year.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Johnson on
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- Clarifying that Opportunity Scholarship funds received by a participating nonpublic school may be subject to audit in accordance with law.
- Requiring participating nonpublic schools to administer an assessment or a nationally normed standardized test.
- Requiring a participating school to return the full amount of the Opportunity Scholarship when the recipient is expelled or requested or directed to withdraw by the participating nonpublic school.
-eliminating the statewide adoption of the Opportunity Scholarship program (school vouchers) and, instead, increasing the total available credits to the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program in 2013-2014 fiscal year from $100 million to $150 million.
None of his amendments were approved by the Senate Education Committee. He was assured by colleagues that they would be raised on the Senate floor.
"I voted to move the process forward only because I am hopeful, that we can still fix this bill. However, let me absolutely clear: if these changes are not made I will not vote for Senate Bill 1." Andrew E. Dinniman
State Senator – 19th District
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on
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Thanks for clarifying that, Christine.
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on
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Now they're going to recess!
Apologies to everyone following at home or at the office.
The wheels of democracy turn slowly...
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Permalink Reply by Sandy Zelno on
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I'm staying around for a while and hope others will also hang in to hear the debate, should they return. Thanks, Christine, for letting us know about Senator Dinniman's ideas for amendments.
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Permalink Reply by Brett Schaeffer on
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Latest word is that they will return in a bit to vote on amendments.
Depending on time, the final vote could be tomorrow.
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