State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, the only Philadelphia Democrat to support a bill that would codify the scholarships, deserves praise. His party mates should follow suit.
It takes guts to do what State Sen. Anthony H. Williams did.
During a recent state Senate Education Committee meeting, Williams delivered a fiery sermon about the sad state of affairs in his districtās public schools, sharing the frustrated pleas of parents seeking better opportunities for their kids.
Williamsā testimony was in support of Senate Bill 795. This bill, sponsored by school choice champion State Sen. Judy Ward, will codify Lifeline Scholarships, referred to as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success, or PASS, Scholarship Program, into law. If approved, SB 795 will provide scholarship accounts to thousands of students in Pennsylvaniaās lowest-performing schools. Parents can use these restricted-use accounts to afford a better education for their children.
Williams, a Philadelphia Democrat, was the only member of his party to vote for SB 795.
āIf I look like Iām voting different from my party, so be it,ā said Williams.
Rather than caving to his partyās interests, Williams is doing what a public servant should do: represent his constituents.
Williams said he stood āwith the people who are struggling in this country,ā adding that many people in this community ādo not have a public school that is providing a quality education.ā The senator challenged his colleagues to visit the schools in his district and listen to his constituentsā demands for expanding educational opportunities.
Williams and his constituents arenāt alone.
Nearly eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians support Lifeline Scholarships. Moreover, the backing is bipartisan. Polling shows 78% of Democrats, 68% of independents, and 61% of Republicans support Lifeline Scholarships.
Yet, last year, despite this overwhelming bipartisan voter support, lawmakers still couldnāt make Lifeline Scholarships a reality during the 2023-2024 budget negotiations. Pennsylvania House Democrats dug in their oppositional heels, leading to a six-month impasse.
Nearly eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians support Lifeline Scholarships.
Lacking the courage to stand up to his party, Gov. Josh Shapiro couldnāt (or wouldnāt) get the Democratic-controlled House to hold a vote on Lifeline Scholarships. Ultimately, Shapiro vetoed the budget item, negating months of good-faith negotiations.
Ironically, what started the budget impasse ā educational choice ā also ended it. In December, lawmakers passed a $150 million increase for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, which support private donations to K-12 scholarships via tax credits. Once implemented, this unprecedented bump will provide scholarships to an additional 35,000 children, especially those in low-income households.
Indeed, educational freedom doesnāt need to be another prolonged political fight. Instead, Shapiro and the Democrats can finally deliver what so many Pennsylvanians demand, but only if they donāt allow partisanship to get in the way.
Expanded school choice is inevitable in Pennsylvania. The proverbial genie is out of the bottle, poking its head out when Shapiro supported Lifeline Scholarships on the campaign trail and in office.
Despite the claims of some lawmakers that a deal involving Lifeline Scholarships isnāt possible, the Shapiro administration signaled otherwise. Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin, in April, said, āThe doorās not closed on it.ā To Shapiro, Lifeline Scholarships remain āunfinished business.ā
While lawmakers prepare to debate the 2024-2025 budget, countless families demand better educational opportunities. If money werenāt an issue, most Pennsylvanians would choose a private school for their kids. In fact, only one in five parents would send their children to their local district school.
Some might ask, āBut what about those left behind?ā Sadly, this question is more of an admission, suggesting that some public schools are sinking ships. If so, letās use everything at our disposal to give a ālifelineā to as many of our underserved kids as possible.
ā[Students] need a different path, a different opportunity, just like it was presented to me,ā said Williams during his closing comments. āAnd that path will lead to success stories across this country.ā
Lifeline Scholarships are that different path. All it takes is more courageous lawmakers to carve that path for the commonwealthās most vulnerable kids.
David Hardy is president of Girard College and a distinguished senior fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation.
