Mercyhurst Prep Urges Support for School Choice Act
School leadership is calling for public advocacy to help secure state participation in federal scholarship funding.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Mercyhurst Preparatory School is launching a campaign to encourage Pennsylvania to join the federal Education Choice for Children Act. The effort urges local residents to contact Governor Shapiro to secure scholarship funding opportunities.
Why it matters
The program provides essential scholarship funding for K-12 students, covering education costs for families that might otherwise struggle to afford them. Growing demand for financial assistance makes this initiative a critical priority for local school leadership.
More than 90% of the student population at Mercyhurst Preparatory School currently relies on financial aid or scholarships. The federal program allows taxpayers to receive tax credits for donations made to these scholarship funds.
The players
Mercyhurst Preparatory School
This is a private Catholic college preparatory school located in Erie that serves a significant number of students receiving financial support.
Governor Shapiro
As the Governor of Pennsylvania, he holds the executive authority to decide whether the state will participate in the federal Education Choice for Children Act.
The details
School officials are asking the Erie community to reach out to the governor to facilitate Pennsylvania's adoption of the federal measure. The legislation creates a framework where taxpayer contributions to scholarship funds are incentivized via federal tax credits.
Timeline
December 31, 2026 is the deadline for Governor Shapiro to sign the Education Choice for Children Act.
Culture Shift
This effort aligns with a broader national movement toward school choice policies that prioritize private scholarship models over traditional funding. By seeking to adopt the federal Education Choice for Children Act, local advocates aim to reshape how education costs are subsidized in the state.
Residents of Erie are being asked to advocate for state participation, which could directly affect the availability of scholarships for local students. If the act is signed, it may change the landscape of financial aid accessibility for families throughout the state.
The takeaway
Advocates for education funding emphasize that private scholarship initiatives are essential to bridging the gap for families facing rising costs. Engaging with state representatives remains the primary method for local communities to influence educational policy decisions.
Further reading
For more information on support programs, visit Erie Financial Aid.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJET-TV.
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