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An effort to enact improvements to public education this year hit a roadblock on Wednesday, Dec. 14 when House lawmakers rejected an amendment containing the reform language.

During floor consideration of a bill (S.B. 560) addressing legislative appointments to the Valley Forge Military College, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, offered an amendment that would have increased funding levels for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program to $200 million and expanded the creation of charter schools in the state. The amendment failed by a vote of 90-105.

The proposals, along with the creation of a school choice program in the Commonwealth, are top priorities of the Corbett administration and are supported by PA Chamber members. (Turzai's amendment did not contain school choice language.)

The education reform concepts contained in the amendment have been introduced by lawmakers as separate bills, and are part of Gov. Tom Corbett’s four-part education reform plan. The administration’s plan earned the PA Chamber’s endorsement when it was unveiled earlier this year.

The Turzai amendment promoted the responsible oversight of charter school expansion by appointing a state-level body to authorize establishment and broaden the ability of local school districts to convert buildings to charter schools. Turzai’s amendment also included EITC language contained in H.B. 1330, which already passed the House and awaits Senate approval. The House Majority Leader’s office said the popular EITC program is a “proven education scholarship bill.”

The PA Chamber supports an expansion of the EITC, which provides tax credits to businesses donating to scholarship and other alternative education programs.

While education reform will not occur this year, its fate is uncertain in 2012 as well.

Legislative leaders have expressed concern that the votes aren't there to pass a tuition voucher program. But a bill (H.B. 1980) that would improve the state's teacher evaluation process awaits a vote by the full House, after advancing from the House Education Committee on Oct. 3, and H.B. 1330 is already moving through the legislature.

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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business.