Dear OLVCS Families,
Several weeks ago, we distributed an action alert regarding proposed legislation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that could have impacted the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. We are grateful to report that, thanks to the overwhelming response from supporters across the Commonwealth, the EITC and OSTC programs were not affected in this round of budget negotiations.
It is important that our families know their voices made a difference. Members of the legislature received more than 50,000 responses from Catholic school and parish families throughout Pennsylvania. While lawmakers also heard from many other nonprofit and nonpublic school advocates, the strongest and most significant response came from our Catholic school communities.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to contact their legislators and advocate for these important programs. Your engagement demonstrated the strength of our Catholic school families and helped ensure that lawmakers understood the value of preserving educational opportunities for students across Pennsylvania. Together, we made our voices heard, and together, we made a difference.
Dr. Jo-Ann Semko, EdD
Director of Education / Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown