A devastating academic report from Pennsylvania public schools has reignited the school choice debate, revealing that not a single student across 18 schools met basic math or reading proficiency standards. The alarming data, particularly from Philadelphia, has drawn bipartisan support for a new education reform effort aimed at rescuing students from failing districts.
Sen. Judy Ward (R-Hollidaysburg) and Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) are leading the charge for Senate Bill 10, which would establish the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) program. The legislation proposes scholarships of up to $15,000 for students trapped in the lowest-performing 15% of public schools. Eligibility is limited to families earning less than 250% of the federal poverty level—$80,375 annually for a family of four.
Sen. Williams, whose district includes some of the failing schools, called the education crisis a national security threat. “China will not take us over by military force,” he warned. “China will take us over because our children are not prepared to compete with their students.”
Despite bipartisan backing in the Senate, the bill faces significant resistance in Pennsylvania’s Democrat-controlled House. Governor Josh Shapiro has voiced support for school choice in the past but has taken a hands-off approach in pushing legislation through the House. A similar proposal, dubbed Lifeline Scholarships, failed during 2023 budget negotiations due to House opposition.
Opponents, including Senate Education Committee Chair Lindsey Williams (D-Pittsburgh), argue that such programs undermine public education. “Vouchers or PASS or whatever we call them, are a plan to defund, destroy and destabilize public education and I’ll be a no every time,” she said.
Nevertheless, public support for school choice is growing. A recent poll by Ragnar Research found 71% of Pennsylvanians back school choice programs, with support cutting across party lines, demographics, and regions.
Pennsylvania’s current education budget includes $811 million in new spending, most of which targets districts through a revised funding formula based on socioeconomic needs. However, critics argue the funds have not translated into better outcomes in classrooms like those that failed the recent proficiency tests.
As academic failure continues in too many public schools, the urgency behind school choice legislation like PASS is increasing—driven by parents, voters, and now lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
