ANNOUNCEMENT
June 1, 2000
Tax Credits for Parents of Private
Elementary and Secondary Schools
What is
the "Tuition Tax Credit"?
|
Connecticut PTA opposes the passage of any legislation which provides
tuition tax credits for elementary or secondary private schools.
Connecticut PTA recognizes that changes must be made within the public
schools to provide an equitable and excellent education opportunity for every
child. However, tax credits, vouchers, deductions, and other funding sources do
not provide the means for bringing improvements to our public schools, which 90
percent of our nation’s children attend. Instead, tax credits cause the
government to lose revenue that it would otherwise collect and could use to make
improvements to the public schools.
Tax credits will cost millions of dollars of lost revenue to implement but do
nothing to address the real investments needed in public education. While it is
true that some families will minimally benefit from the plan, the vast majority
of parents of elementary and secondary students will see no benefit and possibly
feel some loss. With state mandated programs already under funded, how can
Connecticut afford to provide public funds to the few while the majority are in
need? The quality of life within our state depends upon the quality of schools
most children attend. The possible minimal savings for the few parents who will
be able to take advantage of the proposed legislation does not match the need of
the majority of parents whose children attend under funded public schools.
The idea of using public funds to assist private schools to provide
competition with public schools makes no sense. When asked what the best way is
to improve public schools, only 6% said more competition between public and
private schools, but 22% said more funding to reduce class size, and 20% said
more parental and community involvement in the schools. (Penn, Schoen and
Berland, Poll, June 1999.) Inherent in competition are winners and losers—when
the education of Connecticut’s children is at stake, public schools must be
winners. If additional funds are available, Connecticut PTA believes these funds
should go to improving public schools. When asked whether we should be helping
students attend private school with public money or whether we should be using
all available resources to help public schools to improve, over 70% said we
should help public schools. (Penn, Schoen and Berland, Poll, June 1999.)
Connecticut PTA supports increased funding for existing programs that are
successful. We oppose funneling of state dollars to private and sectarian
schools. Connecticut PTA encourages the state legislature to enact public policy
that encourages permanent improvement for every public school so that all
children will benefit.
