Harrisburg, March 8, 2011— State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware), the co-sponsor and a leading proponent of the Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act (Senate Bill 1), will be talking about school choice on WVIA this week.

Williams will be talking with Kathryn Davies on the Pittston PBS station starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 10.

Senate Bill 1 includes a three-year phase-in allowing the parents of a needy child to take the state subsidy that would have been directed to their home school district and apply it to the school of their choice.

The legislation also includes an increase of $25 million to Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, bringing the total tax credits to $100 million. EITC provides financial assistance to working and middle class families seeking educational options for their children.

The Senate Education Committee approved the legislation by a vote of 8-2 on March 1. It now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

“Providing every child with an opportunity to receive a quality education is the lynchpin of nearly everything we seek to accomplish throughout the state,” Williams said. “Opportunity scholarships and EITC are key elements in reaching that goal.”

Williams is the Senate Democratic Whip and a member of the Senate Education Committee.

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