State Rep. Bill Giffin Urges Caution Before Replacing Pennsylvania's Successful Educational Tax Credit Program
PHILADELPHIA, PA — State Representative Bill Giffin is urging lawmakers and Pennsylvania families to carefully consider the impact of proposed changes to the state's longstanding Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, arguing that the discussion should prioritize students and families who rely on educational choice.
In a newly published opinion piece, Giffin reflects on his experience as both a former public school principal and educator, sharing firsthand accounts of helping families explore educational opportunities that best fit their children's needs. He argues that while school choice alone is not enough, financial accessibility through programs like EITC has helped make those opportunities possible for thousands of Pennsylvania students.
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit program has provided scholarship assistance to more than one million students since its creation more than 25 years ago, helping families access educational options that may otherwise be financially out of reach.
Giffin expresses concern over legislation that would replace the current EITC program, noting that many parents, schools, scholarship organizations, and community stakeholders have raised questions about how the proposed changes could affect students who currently depend on scholarship funding.
According to Giffin, any effort to improve accountability should strengthen—not replace—a program that has demonstrated decades of success. He encourages lawmakers to engage families and education stakeholders before making significant policy changes and emphasizes that decisions affecting children's education deserve transparency, thoughtful public discussion, and careful consideration.
"As lawmakers consider the future of educational choice in Pennsylvania, it's important that the voices of families, educators, and scholarship organizations remain at the center of the conversation," Giffin writes.
Read the Full Op-Ed
The complete opinion piece, "Before replacing a successful 25-year-old program, Pennsylvania families deserve the full story," is available here:
