I am confused by the “controversy” surrounding Lifeline Scholarships. This program will provide scholarship accounts to students in Pennsylvania’s lowest-achieving schools so they can afford a private school.
Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 budget provided more than $8.8 billion in basic education funding. Had Gov. Josh Shapiro not vetoed it, Lifeline Scholarships would have cost taxpayers $100 million—less than one percent of what we committed to public education in last year’s budget.
Lifeline Scholarships, a seemingly minor investment with a major return, could transform the commonwealth’s educational landscape and bring hope to thousands of students trapped in Pennsylvania’s worst schools.
However, even if Lifeline Scholarships were to pass, Pennsylvania would still lag behind other states with robust educational choice programs.
Arizona—where all students are eligible for educational savings accounts (ESAs)—exceeds the Lifeline Scholarship proposal. Arizona ESAs, which have been in place since 2011, provide an average of $7,000 per year to participating students—about half of what Arizona spends per pupil at district schools.
In the 2022–23 fiscal year (the program’s first year with universal eligibility), Arizona spent about $587 million on ESAs. Even though this amount is more than five times than what was proposed for Lifeline Scholarships, Arizona ESAs still only represent about 5 percent of what the state spent on public education.
Lifeline Scholarships seem like a drop in the bucket. However, this funding will make a world of difference for thousands of Pennsylvania students desperately needing better educational alternatives.