The OSTC Programs

 
Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will award tuition scholarships only to those individuals who meet the eligibility criteria specified by The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTCP) which was created pursuant to Act 85 of 2012. Eligible students residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school, specified by the state as (a public elementary or secondary school ranking in the bottom 15 percent of their designation as an elementary or secondary school based on combined math and reading scores on the previous school years PSSA, as listed online) who apply for a scholarship to attend another public or nonpublic school.

Scholarships will be awarded for the 2012 – 13 school year and will not exceed the maximum of $8,500 for non-special education students and will not exceed the maximum of $15,000 for special education students. The amount of scholarships provided will not exceed the standard tuition charged by the school. The amount of scholarship paid to or on behalf of a student combined with any additional financial assistance provided to the student may not exceed the actual amount of tuition and school related fees charged by the school in which the student is enrolled, nor exceed the actual amount of tuition and school related fees charged by the school to non scholarship students.

Applicants must submit proof of household income is no greater than $60,000, plus 12,000 for each dependent member of the household with their application. Scholarships will be awarded on a racially non-discriminatory basis of first come-first serve.

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will require a refund of scholarship monies paid for tuition, during a time period when a student has withdrawn from school prior to the end of the period for which tuition has been paid.

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will maintain annual OSTC receipts of the total amount of contributions received form a business awarded tax credits during the organization’s fiscal year and will provide a detailed contribution receipt to the business, on Opportunity Scholarship letterhead as specified in the Appendix to include (business name, amount of the contribution, date of check, date check was received).

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will contribute 80% of its annual OSTC receipts to the Opportunity Scholarship Program which meets requirements and guidelines of the Act.

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will maintain full and accurate records with respect to the receipts of contributions from the businesses and expenditures of those contributions.These records shall be maintained for a period of not less than three years.

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will not limit its scholarship to children who attend one school only. Recipients are free to choose the school of their choice whether private/non public or public, kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and schools designated specifically and exclusively for students with disabilities listed in Title 34 CFR and meets one of the four state requirements. All schools must meet state compulsory attendance requirements of the commonwealth and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization shall give preference to any of the following:

  • An applicant who received a scholarship for the prior year
  • An applicant of a household with a household income that does not exceed 185%  of the federal poverty level for the school year preceding the school year for which the application is being made.
  • An applicant of a household with a household income that does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty level for the school year preceding the school year for which the application is being made who resides within the following:
    a.   A first class school district
    b.  A school district with an average daily membership greater than 7,500 and that received an advance of its basic education subsidy at any time
    c.  A school district that receives an advance of its basic education subsidy at any time and is either subject to a declaration of financial distress under Section 691 of the Public School Code of 1949 or engaged in litigation against the commonwealth in shich the school district seeks financial assistance from the commonwealth to allow the school district to continue to operate.

Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization will maintain confidentiality of information pertaining to student eligibility in the opportunity scholarship program, including income information. All applications and information will be kept strictly confidential and will be used exclusively for Children First America Delaware County Opportunity Scholarship Organization for the verification of income and awarding scholarships.