Press Release

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