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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mark Longietti
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Bill to aid United Way Success by Six programs clears House committee
HARRISBURG, June 24 – A bill authored by state Rep. Mark Longietti that that would allow businesses to receive a tax credit for supporting additional education programs, including a popular pre-kindergarten program for needy children in Mercer County, was approved by the House Education Committee today.
Longietti said the United Way of Mercer County started a pre-kindergarten program called Success by Six that lasts about 35 days in the summer and runs about five hours a day. The state's current Educational Improvement Tax Credit law requires that a program must run at least 60 days with at least 120 hours of instruction for businesses to receive a tax credit for financially supporting it. Summer programs often run for much less than 60 days and were not considered in the original tax credit legislation.
Longietti said Jim Micsky, executive director of the United Way of Mercer County, approached him and explained that local businesses wanted to support the program financially if they could get a tax credit.
So Longietti introduced H.B. 1615. The bill would allow summer pre-kindergarten educational programs that run at least 20 days with at least 40 hours of instruction to also qualify for the tax credit program.
"Success by Six is certainly a program worthy of financial support by the local business community," Longietti said. "It has a proven track record of preparing many of our local children for kindergarten and beyond.
"I am sure there are other summer pre-kindergarten educational programs across the state that would benefit from this legislation," Longietti added.
Longietti noted that his bill is supported by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.
In Success by Six, school districts identify needy children, provide their facilities for instruction, and help select certified teachers who deliver the instruction.
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