Break ranks with other organized labor groups

A pair of organized labor groups in Philadelphia announced their support for a statewide public school voucher program Friday, breaking away from the vast majority of unions in Pennsylvania.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 and the Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity said in a joint statement they support the voucher plan contained in S.B. 1, which would give Pennsylvania’s poorest families the opportunity to leave failing public schools.  The plan would redirect the state-level per student funding to a school of the student’s choice.

The bill also increases funding for the existing Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which provides scholarships to poor students through tax-deductible contributions from Pennsylvania businesses.

“Opportunity Scholarships and an expanded EITC program will rescue thousands of kids currently trapped in failing schools. This is not a partisan issue,” said John Dougherty, business manager for IBEW Local 98.

If enacted as written, S.B. 1 would give poor students in failing school districts access to vouchers in the first year.  Eligibility requirements would expand in the second and third year until all low income students in the state had access to school choice, regardless of their home public school district.

“Senate Bill 1 provides school choice to lower income families in a fiscally responsible way, without hurting public schools, because it leaves some funding with the local school district to cover fixed costs,” said Ryan Boyer, business manager for the Laborer’s District Council.

Teachers unions in the state have uniformly opposed the legislation.  On major issues, organized labor groups typically unify with each other.

Last year, IBEW Local 98 supported a similar public school voucher proposal.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Federation of Teachers did not return calls for comment.

State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia

State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), a co-sponsor of the bill, said the announcement signaled the power behind the effort to “protect and empower people” through school choice.

“It shows where the conversation is.  There is a diversity of thought about this and many people recognize this is an issue of options and choice for those who are in need,” said Mr. Williams.

The voucher bill successfully passed from the state Senate Education Committee with bipartisan support earlier this week. It will be redirected to the Senate Appropriations Committee before coming to the floor for a vote by the full chamber.

In the first year, the voucher program would redirect up to $50 million from the state’s basic education subsidy to the scholarship program. By the third year – depending on how many students take advantage of the program – the amount redirected could range from $500 million to $1 billion, according to various estimates.

In the current fiscal year, Pennsylvania is spending $26 billion on basic education.

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READ MORE:

School Choice Bill Takes First Step To Passage (3/1/11)

Corbett’s Education Secretary Says Reform Is Urgent (2/16/11)