PA Senate Advances Voucher Bill to Boost School Choice Options

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee on Tuesday advanced Senate Bill 10, creating the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Scholarship Program to expand school choice for students in low-achieving public schools. The measure passed 8-3, with Democratic Sen. Anthony H. Williams joining Republicans in support. Eligible students — Pennsylvania residents without high school diplomas attending low-performing schools — could receive scholarships starting in the 2026-27 school year: $2,500 for half-day kindergarten, $5,000 for full-day K-8, $10,000 for grades 9-12, and $15,000 for those with special needs.

Proponents, including Sen. Doug Mastriano, who introduced a related bill for Education Savings Accounts, argue the program empowers parents to choose private schools, tutoring, homeschooling, or specialized programs, building on existing options like charter and cyber schools. The initiative revives voucher debates, similar to last year's failed efforts and the 2023 Lifeline Scholarships proposal, amid a national push reflected in federal bills backed by PA Republicans like Reps. Mike Kelly, Guy Reschenthaler, and Dan Meuser.

Opposition from groups like the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and ACLU-PA is fierce, labeling it an unconstitutional attack on public education that siphons resources. PSEA President Rich Askey called similar House Bill 2169 a 'terrible' policy diverting $144 million from needy districts. This comes as the state addresses a 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling on unconstitutional funding, with Gov. Josh Shapiro's 2026-27 budget proposing $8.3 billion for basic education — up $50 million — plus $526 million in adequacy supplements and cyber charter reforms saving $75 million annually.