Statewide Press Coverage of SB1 Voucher Bill 10/26/11

Statewide Press Coverage of SB1 Voucher Bill 10/26/11

On Tuesday an amended version of Senate Bill 1 was approved by the Senate Education Committee by a 9-2 vote.  It is expected to be debated in the full Senate as early as today.

Vouchers advance in Harrisburg

The notebook by Benjamin Herold on Oct 25 2011

School vouchers have taken another step forward in Pennsylvania.

And they're taking charter school reform with them.

On Tuesday, an amended version of Senate Bill 1, as the measure is known, was approved by the Senate Education Committee.

The "opportunity scholarships," as the vouchers are called, would be available to families with students in the "bottom 5 percent" of Pennsylvania's schools, including 111 elementary schools  and 32 secondary schools.

The office of state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola  provided the Notebook with a list comparing each Pennsylvania school district's average per-pupil expenditure with the value of a potential voucher.

http://www.thenotebook.org/blog/114188/vouchers-advance-harrisburg

Posted on Wed, Oct. 26, 2011

Corbett education initiatives sent for Senate vote

By Dan Hardy, Inquirer Staff Writer

A state Senate committee approved legislation Tuesday that moves forward three key Corbett administration education initiatives: vouchers, charter-school expansion, and increased funding of tax credits that pay for private-school tuition.

The full Senate could vote on the proposal as early as Wednesday.

http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20111026_Corbett_education_initiatives_sent_for_Senate_vote.html

October 25, 2011 | By PA Independent

Voucher bill moves forward, Senate vote expected Wednesday

Opponents condemn bill as cost to poor schools

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Children from low-income families who are enrolled in 144 failing public schools will have access to vouchers worth about $7,700 each under a program approved by the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

http://paindependent.com/2011/10/voucher-bill-moves-forward-senate-vote-expected-wednesday/

PA Senate Education Committee advances school choice package that includes a school voucher plan

Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 11:50

By JAN MURPHY, The Patriot-News 

Less than two weeks after Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his education reform plan, the Senate Education Committee is poised to vote on a 66-page amendment to Senate Bill 1 that incorporate the governor's voucher proposal as well as aspects of his charter school reforms and an expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.  The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin County, and Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, won the committee's support by a 9-2 vote. The measure is expected to be considered by the full Senate on Wednesday.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/10/pa_senate_education_committee.html