Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) manages various programs to support business and community growth, including the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The EITC encourages companies and individuals to redirect their state tax dollars to contribute to need-based scholarships.
Key points about the EITC program:
- The program has a fixed annual budget contingent upon the overall DCED budget and the specific amount allocated by the state for this program’s purpose; the program does not have unlimited funds.
- The Friends Collaborative’s participation in this program does not affect the budget for this program. If The Friends Collaborative doesn't utilize the available tax credits, other eligible organizations or businesses will claim them, potentially leaving scholarship money unused for students at Friends schools.
- EITC operates within DCED's budget, which is entirely separate from the Department of Education's budget for funding public schools; the two budgets operate independently of each other.
- EITC-awarded scholarships do not negatively impact public school funding; they are funded through a distinct allocation.
The Friends Collaborative strongly supports public education and is confident that EITC does not conflict with public school funding.
Overall, The Friends Collaborative is supportive of all forms of educational instruction and their importance in supporting children and families. As Quaker institutions, our approach to the concept and need for education is rooted in the core Quaker principles of equality, inclusion, unity, and community. We believe that providing education can create communities in a climate of equality and respect. As such, we endorse the crux of education and its essential role in community growth. Quintessentially, education is for all, and to satisfy the diverse needs of all individuals in our Commonwealth and provide the grounds for desired optimal growth, a dynamic and equitable educational ecosystem encompassing a collective network of various branches of education is fundamental. As such, each branch of the ecosystem, each form of academic instruction (i.e., independent Quaker education, public education, etc.), must be categorically and equitably sustained and supported, as each plays a crucial and consequential role in driving communities forward.