School Choice: Washington State Has Opportunity to Empower Families

[Valin]

Heritage.org:

Brittany Corona

June 11, 2013

 

Washington state is considering a major school choice proposal.

 

The proposal would allow corporations to receive a 100 percent tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, which would provide vouchers to children from low-income families to attend private schools of their choice. The scholarship program would have an initial cap of $100 million.

 

The proposal states that a tuition tax scholarship option in Washington would expand educational opportunities, improving the quality of educational services within the state, and ensuring that all parents may exercise and enjoy their basic right to educate their children.

 

Moreover, proponents note that the scholarship tax credit option would save the state $6,300 for each student who is awarded a scholarship, making it possible that the state will save between $20 million and $60 million during the 20132015 bienniums. The Freedom Foundation points out, The reduction in state expenditures is greater than the reduction in state tax revenue.

 

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