Scholarships available for Pennsylvania students at low-performing schools

Pennsylvania officials said Wednesday that students at low-achieving schools may be eligible for a scholarship program that would let them attend other schools.

The announcement coincided with the publication of a list of 414 elementary and secondary schools across the state that scored in the bottom 15 percent in math and reading test scores.

Philadelphia accounts for 158 of those schools - 38 percent.

The scholarship program, signed into law last month by Gov. Corbett, will be paid for by businesses that earn tax credits by funding the effort.

As much as $50 million could be available for scholarships, depending on how many businesses participate and how much they donate.

"The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program is geared toward low- and moderate-income students who reside in the attendance boundary of a low-achieving school," said Tim Eller, spokesman for the state Department of Education.

For the coming school year, students could receive a maximum scholarship of $8,500. The maximum for special-education students is $15,000.

Students could then attend participating public and nonpublic schools.

Eligible students must come from a household with an annual income that is not more than $60,000, plus $12,000 for each dependent individual.

In Delaware County, 28 schools made the low-achieving list. There were four in Montgomery County, two in Bucks County, and none in Chester County.

To view a list of the schools, visit http://bit.ly/QGRcfi.