Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC Program.)
Sister Margaret Rose, IHM, and I received notification from the Archdiocesan BLOCS Office this week that the State of Pennsylvania still has $8 million to award for tuition assistance through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC Program.) The Archdiocesan BLOCS Office is a State-approved scholarship organization for the EITC grants.
In 2001, the State of Pennsylvania established the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program to assist families, who choose to send their child to a non-public school, through tuition assistance. The State will permit a business to contribute up to 90% of their State taxes in a given fiscal year to one or more designated schools for tuition assistance.
These tax credits would have to be made for two consecutive years. If a business chooses to participate, it must complete a very short application.
In turn, a family can apply for tuition assistance, if the Parish has received EITC tax credits, by completing a short application. To be eligible, a family can not have a total income of more than $70,000 (one child), $80,000 (two children) and $10,000 increments for each additional child. Presently, SS. Simon and Jude Parish has received $14,000 in tuition assistance through the EITC Program for this school year. In contrast, St. Martin of Tours Parish,where I last served, has received almost $200,000 for this school year.
I am bringing this information and opportunity to our parish community to see if anyone who has a business or might know someone who has a business would be interested in participating in this EITC Program. It is a win-win opportunity. If your business pays State taxes in Pennsylvania, you could help a family in our parish to afford Catholic education.
While many of our families are blessed with good income, we do have families who are struggling financially at this time. Please contact either Sister Margaret Rose, IHM or me, if you might want to participate in the EITC Program or would like additional information.
Msgr. Beach
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