Monday, August 6, 2012

Scholarships for students in low performing feeders

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/fund-to-help-students-get-into-better-schools-647666/

9 comments:

Questioner said...

Based on this article, it would seem that a family of 4 earning almost 100k and living in the part of Highland Park that feeds to U Prep would be eligible for a scholarship to attend "a private or other higher-performing public school."

So would this pay for Catholic school? Which public school- a school in another district?

Anonymous said...

The ESCAPE from UPREP has begun.

Somehow, I do not think that, escape, was the purpose of engaging the University of Pittsburgh in the design and implementation of a school in the Hill District.

What happened? What will change the need for "escape"?

Anonymous said...

$8,500 isn't going to cover private school tuition. Most private schools in Pittsburgh range 10k (very few) to 18K +.

Anonymous said...

Most private schools in Pittsburgh do accept some students at reduced rates. IF the child were testing really well and would be a great addition to their school, I could see them taking that amount and/or asking the parents to kick in another hundred dollars a month. However, the article says: and must hold a lottery to determine enrollment if the influx of scholarship students exceeds capacity, according to state guidelines. If they can't pick and choose, they're unlikely to sign up to be on the list.

http://www.sacredheartpgh.org/admissions/tuition/ << it would cover up through 8th grade there.

I have to assume that just being in the feeder pattern doesn't entitle you to apply? That is, will a family who is already sending a kid to private school now be eligible for this scholarship? I'd think not, but hard to say.

In the past, I've heard that schools have told parents that if vouchers (different than this plan) came in, they'd raise the set tuition of the school by the amount of the voucher -- so that the school could bring in much more money but it wouldn't make them much more accessible to others. Or "others."

Also, didn't the first article say the scholarship fund is supposed to be funded via...private businesses? How many dollars will there be, will local dollars stay local? Can a business fund a specific school for a scholarship?

Confusing.

Anonymous said...

Maybe when the list of schools participating is published it will make more sense. I wonder if Allderdice will be an option? (Not sure how tuition would figure in) Possibly other public schools outside of Pittsburgh? I can't imagine, Shadyside, Winchester, among others participating. Falk & St. Bedes have waiting lists. I think Central catholic & Oakland Catholic have waiting lists too.

Anonymous said...

http://triblive.com/news/2355559-74/schools-students-program-public-state-district-choice-private-scholarship-superintendent

"The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, which has closed schools in recent years because of declining enrollment, is among Western Pennsylvania schools planning to accept students. Others approved include Community Day School in Squirrel Hill and Kentucky Avenue School in Shadyside."

If you are already sending your children to Central Catholic, Community Day or Kentucky and live in Pittsburgh can parent's still apply?

Anonymous said...

This is the site that shows the low achieving schools in PA, and if your student goes to any of these schools they would be eligible for the Opportunities Scholarships, it also shows the schools (all private who would accept the scholarships)



http://newpa.com/find-incentives-apply-for-funding/ostc-faq

Anonymous said...

Here is a link to the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program. It lists the low achieving schools in PA 27 which are in PPS. That families can apply for the Scholarship and go to a different school. The PPS schools are: ALLEGHENY TRAD MS ACAD,ARLINGTON EL SCH, ARSENAL EL SCHOOL,ARSENAL MS,BRASHEAR HS,CARRICK HS,FORT PITT EL SCH,GRANDVIEW EL SCH,
HELEN S FAISON ARTS ACADEMY,
KING M L EL SCH,LANGLEY HS
LINCOLN EL TECH ACADEMY,
MANCHESTER EL SCH,MURRAY EL SCH
NORTHVIEW EL,OLIVER HS, PERRY TRADITIONAL ACAD HS, MILLER PRE K-5, UNIVERSITY PREP, SCHAEFFER EL SCH, SCHILLER CLASSICAL A, SOUTH BROOK MIDDLE SCH, SPRING HILL EL SCH,STEVENS EL SCH, SUNNYSIDE EL SCH,WEIL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE,WOOLSLAIR ELEM SCHOOL

There is also a list of schools that will receive the students and scholarships.

http://newpa.com/find-incentives-apply-for-funding/ostc-faq

Questioner said...

Not too much of a change from when Roosevelt and Broad arrived 7 years ago, is there?