Education tax credit to expand in new Pa. budget

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — More money for private school scholarships and education nonprofits in Pennsylvania will be part of a nearly $27.7 billion Republican-penned spending plan taking shape in the Capitol.

Aides to House Republican leaders said today that a substantial amount of extra taxpayer money will go toward the Educational Improvement Tax Credit.

The amount available for the tax credit in the current fiscal year is $75 million. The extra amount to be set aside in the fiscal year beginning July 1 is still being worked out.

However, some of the extra money could go toward an emerging plan to focus on students in the state’s worst-performing schools.

The credit is generally worth up to 90 percent of the philanthropic contributions by businesses to eligible private schools and education groups.