June 12, 2009
School Choice tax credit part of Governor’s budget package
By BRIGID CURTIS AYER (Indiana Catholic Conference)
INDIANAPOLIS — Nine-year-old Mia Poindexter, a fourth grader at Holy Angels Catholic School in Indianapolis, got a chance of a lifetime — the opportunity to receive a Catholic education.
Lack of financial resources, the typical roadblock for most parents in choosing their children’s education, was removed. The financial void was filled by a private scholarship granting organization (SGO) called the Educational CHOICE Charitable Trust in Indianapolis.
Mia’s story of opportunity featured in the organization’s publication “Families with a Choice, Children with a Future: School Choice in Indiana” is only one of countless others. The success stories are inspirational, yet the CHOICE program only serves children in Central Indiana — and there are many more Hoo-sier families in need of this opportunity.
Children statewide are going to have that same op-portunity as the Poindexter family if Governor Mitch Daniels has his way. Daniels included an expansion of school choice options for lower income families through a scholarship tax credit as part of his budget package. Now it’s up to lawmakers to approve it when they return to the statehouse June 11, for a special session, to pass a new state budget.
The Indiana Catholic Conference and Catholics across the state during the past several months urged lawmakers to adopt the scholarship tax credit. The scholarship tax credit passed the Senate twice this spring, but died when the House and Senate could not agree on other controversial aspects of the state’s budget bill.
When the special session begins, lawmakers will be working from the governor’s budget plan which contains the scholarship tax credit, and if passed, would provide a 50 percent state tax credit for charitable contributions to qualified scholarship programs. Lower income children in grades K-12 could qualify for scholarships to help attend the public or private school of their choice. The contributions could be made by individuals or corporations.
Msgr. Joseph Schaedel, Vicar General of the Arch-diocese of Indianapolis, who testified in support of the scholarship tax credit earlier this year and who has seen the benefits to families and communities, said, “The CHOICE Charitable Trust Scholarships have been ‘heaven sent’ for so many families who wanted the best education for their children. Without these scholarships, it is simply not possible.”
James McNeany, principal of All Saints Catholic School in Logansport said, “Since we are not in Marion County, our kids are not eligible for the CHOICE Program. Currently there are no trusts like it in our area.
“The creation of the scholarship tax credit is important for us to fulfill our mission of being a Catholic School,” said McNeany. “Contrary to common belief, Catholic Schools are not just for the wealthy. A faith-based education is a gift that Christ wants us to share with all children regardless of their family’s ability to afford tuition. We do not turn families away because of financial need, but because of that, it puts a tremendous financial burden on our shoulders.
“We are a small school with a little over 100 students. This year we anticipat our scholarship fund to be nearly $30,000, which comes from fundraisers and the parish,” said Mc-Neany. “The scholarship tax credit would facilitate a foundation similar to the CHOICE Trust to be set up for our county and would encourage private donors and corporations to contribute to the fund by allowing them a tax credit.”
McNeany said, “We already have similar tax benefits for higher education. It is time that K-12 non-public and faith-based schools get the same kind of consideration. For every child that attends a non-public school, we save the state of Indiana roughly $7,000 a year, so allowing this credit would not be a financial burden on the state by any means.”
Mary Pat Sharpe, principal at St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis said, “Education is one of the most important gifts you can give your child. As a parent I want to choose which school is the best fit for my child. It is my right and duty,” said Sharpe.
“CHOICE Charitable Trust provided about $55,600.00 this year in tuition assistance. Our need was over $75,000,” said Sharpe. “This upcoming year will be even tougher as many families who do not qualify for CHOICE, have lost jobs and found themselves struggling financially. Therefore, there is another group of families needing assistance.”
Glenn Tebbe, ICC Executive Director said, “The ICC and the Indiana Catholic Action Network (I-CAN) have played and will play a vital role in getting this scholarship tax credit passed. So I encourage everyone to keep contacting your state legislator and ask them to support the scholarship tax credit.”
With the new fiscal year beginning July 1, the date when the new budget will go into effect, lawmakers only have a few weeks to pass the new state budget.