Earlier this week, the state senate approved a fiscal code bill that includes school voucher program.
The Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Program was part of the fiscal code that was approved by a vote of 28-19 in the state senate. The state house of representatives still has to approve the fiscal code before it can take effect, they will return to session on September 26.
Items that were also approved include:
- Providing for a two-year tuition freeze for PASSHE schools.
- Allocating more than $260 million for community colleges.
- Distributing more than $70 million in state aid for libraries.
- Allocating more than $76 million for special education funding for Intermediate Units.
- Reimbursing schools for providing free breakfasts for all students ($46.5 million).
- Transferring more than $8.5 million to maintain current PHEAA grant levels.
- Distributing $11 million in grants for non-public school safety initiatives.
Two democrats and one republican were absent for the vote and Democrat Anthony Williams crossed the aisle and voted for the package.
