Overview of the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program
The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program provides scholarships to eligible students who wish to attend a participating public or nonpublic school of their choice.
Eligibility:
The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program allows businesses to contribute to an opportunity scholarship organization that provides funding to eligible students who reside within the attendance boundaries of a low-achieving school. A “low-achieving school” is defined as a public elementary or secondary school in Pennsylvania that ranks in the bottom 15 percent of its designation as an elementary or secondary school based on combined math and reading scores on the most recent PSSA. This term does not include a brick-and-mortar charter school, cyber charter school or area vocational-technical school. Students (including students entering kindergarten) who reside within the boundaries of a low-achieving school as of the first day of classes will be eligible to apply for an opportunity scholarship. In 2014 due to a law change companies began passing thru EITC tax credits to individual donors in business entities called Special Purpose Entities (SPE's).
Eligible students may include children residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school who:
Eligible students are defined as those school-age children living in the attendance boundary of a low-achieving school as of the first day of classes and whose household income meets the following criteria:
The Pennsylvania Department of Education will annually publish a list of the bottom 15 percent of elementary schools and the bottom 15 percent of secondary schools, based on combined math and reading PSSA scores, and identify them as low-achieving schools.
Other Information:
Eligible students may include children residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school who:
- Currently attend a low-achieving school
- Are currently enrolled in a non-public school
- Were previously home schooled
- Were previously attending a charter or cyber charter.
Eligible students are defined as those school-age children living in the attendance boundary of a low-achieving school as of the first day of classes and whose household income meets the following criteria:
- 2021 family income of $105,183 plus $18,514 for each dependent member of the household; For students with a disability additional adjustment for the allowance will be made pursuant to the law.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education will annually publish a list of the bottom 15 percent of elementary schools and the bottom 15 percent of secondary schools, based on combined math and reading PSSA scores, and identify them as low-achieving schools.
- Opportunity Scholarship Amount: The maximum amount of an opportunity scholarship awarded to an eligible student is as follows:
- $8,500 for a student without a disability
- $15,000 for a student with a disability
Other Information:
- 90% tax credit for donors with 2-year commitment
- Tax credits limited to $75 million annually.
- Scholarships clustered around a failing school on the state list
- Parents of children in these failing schools get notified by letter
Contact us for assistance with OSTC scholarship programs - Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund is a registered Pa 501C3 charity
listed on the Pennsylvania OSTC website as a PA registered OSTC scholarship organization.
listed on the Pennsylvania OSTC website as a PA registered OSTC scholarship organization.
We help new donors receive OSTC tax credit!
Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund - a 501C3 Charity. (814) 942-4406 [email protected]