65 Organizations, Individuals Call for Enactment of Lifeline Scholarships

Harrisburg, Pa., June 29, 2023 — A diverse coalition of more than 60 individuals and organizations, including two former U.S education secretaries, rapper and activist Meek Mill, schools and scholarship organizations from across the state, Pennsylvania education advocacy organizations, Troy Carter (west Philadelphia native and former talent manager for stars such as Lady Gaga and John Legend), and other public interest groups are rallying support for the Lifeline Scholarship program that would help students trapped in failing Pennsylvania schools.

The program would provide students in Pennsylvania’s lowest-performing public schools with scholarships to attend a school of their choice.

In a letter to the governor and legislators, the coalition wrote that “33 of the bottom 15 percent of high schools have zero students performing math at their grade level; six high schools have not a single student reading at their grade level. Minority, low-income students are overrepresented in these underperforming schools.

“Without Lifeline Scholarships, we are setting our children up for failure before they even have an opportunity to succeed.”

“This is an overwhelming expression of support from a broad coalition on behalf of the 250,000 Pennsylvania students trapped in failing public schools,” said Erik Telford, senior vice president of the Commonwealth Foundation, which organized the coalition letter. “Lifeline Scholarships offer them hope and access to quality education. This program must be included in the pending budget agreement. With the new school year fast approaching, these children’s futures are hanging in the balance.”

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The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.

Read the coalition letter here.

Coalition Members

INDIVIDUAL SIGNERS:

Rabbi Matthew Abelson

Conservative Judaism

Richard K. Armey

Member of Congress, Ret.

(Former U.S. House Majority Leader)

Bill Bennett

3rd U.S. Secretary of Education

Troy Carter

Venice Music / One Way Out PA

Betsy DeVos

11th U.S. Secretary of Education

J Erving

Executive VP Sony Music/ Founder of Human ReSources Music

Shawn Gee

Founder
Live Nation Urban

Kevin Hassett

Distinguished visiting fellow Hoover
& former Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers

Meek Mill

Artist/Co-founder Reform

Ryan Press

President
A&R at Warner Chappell Music

Rev. Joshua C. Robertson

Senior Pastor, The Rock Church

ORGANIZATIONAL SIGNERS:

Derrell Bradford

President

50CAN

Saul Anuzis

President

60 Plus Association

Ryan Cantrell

National Director of Government Affairs

American Federation for Children

Lisa B. Nelson

CEO

ALEC Action

Phil Kerpen

President

American Commitment

Ashley Klingensmith

State Director

Americans for Prosperity – Pennsylvania Americans for Prosperity

Grover Norquist

President

Americans for Tax Reform

Patricia Scott

President

Archbishop John Carroll

Philip Puleo

ACSIPA Liason

Association of Christian Schools International

Beth Ann Rosica

Chair

Back Basics West Chester

Thomas A. Smith

Principal/CAO

Bishop McCort Catholic High School

Robert Alt

President and CEO

The Buckeye Institute

Jeanne Allen

Founder & CEO

Center for Education Reform

Jim Saunders

President, Cofounder, and CEO

America Lehigh Valley

Darla Romfo

President & CEO

Children’s Scholarship Fund

Keisha Jordan

President & CEO

Children’s Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia

Stephen Moore

Co-Founder

Committee to Unleash Prosperity

Jennifer Stefano

Treasurer

Commonwealth Action

Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Commonwealth Foundation

Senator Jim DeMint

Chairman

Conservative Partnership Institute

Tom Shoemaker

President & CEO

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Ms. Landis Erwin

Director of Development

Crossroads Foundation

Marc LeBlond

Director of Policy

EdChoice

Corey DeAngelis

Executive Director

Education Freedom Institute

Tim Hoefer

President & CEO

Empire Center

Dave Hardy

Treasurer

Excellent Schools PA

Ashley DeMauro Mullins

Senior Legislative Director, Northeast

ExcelinEd in Action

Adam Brandon

President

FreedomWorks

Najimah Roberson

President/Founder

Harrisburg Families United

Dr. Matt Tarr

Head of School

High Point Classical Academy

Mario H. Lopez

President

Hispanic Leadership Fund

Bruce Robinson

President and Chief Executive Officer

Independence Mission Schools

Hadley Heath Manning

Vice President for Policy

Independent Women’s Voice

Susan J. Selby

CEO

Immanuel Christian School, Hazleton

Daniel Garza

President

The LIBRE Initiative

Kristie Dugan

President

Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls

Rev. Aaron J. Anderson

CEO

Logos Academy York

Andy Phillips

Founding CEO

Logos Academy Harrisburg

Kristen Tyagi

Executive Director

National Coalition for Public School Options

Darlene Robbins

President

Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council

Luke Bernstein

President & CEO

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry

Dr. Anne Clark

CEO

Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools

Sharon Sedlar

Founder and CEO

Pennsylvania Families for Education Choice

Thomas J. Shaheen

Vice President for Policy

Pennsylvania Family Council

David Taylor

President & CEO

Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association

Steve Litz

Business Manager

Saint Andrew School – Drexel Hill

Dr. Lizanne Magarity Pando

President

St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls

Rob Shearer

Cofounder

St. Joesph’s Catholic Academy, Boalsburg

Tracie Sharp

President & CEO

State Policy Network

Karen Kerrigan

President & CEO

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

David Williams

President

Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Charissa Mitchell

President

Threefold Education Association

Carol Platt Liebau

President

Yankee Institute for Public Policy

Craig Hulse

Executive Director

Yes.Every.Kid