The last day to apply to the Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia is Friday, March 1. After then, the first of 7,000 applications will enter the lottery for a 4-year partial scholarship worth up to $2,200. The lottery is random, and the winning scholarships reflect an investment in the city’s youth from grades K – 8.
Some 400 Philadelphia’s schools are deemed low-performing. CSFP offers children from low-income families the opportunity for higher quality education in private schools of their choice. CSFP applicants must be residents of the city, although other CSF programs may be available elsewhere in the country (check www.scholarshipfund.org or call 212.515.7100 for other locations).
In this city, applications, rules, the income eligibility scale, and a list of 175 private and parochial schools K - 8 are available at www.csfphiladelphia.org or call 215.670.8411 for details. Scholarship winners will be randomly selected in March and will be notified thereafter. They can expect to receive a registration form and school commitment form for completion and submission with other required information.
The amount of each award is calculated based on household size and income after CSFP receives all required documents. The lower the income and larger the family, the higher percentage of the tuition covered up to the maximum of $2,200. Every family, however, will pay some annual tuition. That amount could be as low as $500 or 25%, whichever is larger. Parents are also responsible for scholarship renewals over the 4-year period.
School tuitions cost $4,000 on average in this area and the average scholarship is $1,500. CSFP has awarded 10,500 scholarships over the last 12 year to help students educate themselves out of poverty.
One 3rd grade scholarship winner said she wants to be a veterinarian, “because I would like to take care of animals.” She loves math and gets excited about learning new things. “Going to school is important,” she says, “so that you can learn and go to the next grade.” This child is moving closer to her educational dreams. In that regard, scholarship winners for the 2013-2014 school year may join her.
In addition, the current BLOCS application period for scholarships to Catholic schools ends March 31. Its final application period this year runs from April 1 – May 31.
Families are encouraged to take advantage of these educational opportunity. Corporations are encouraged to donate to a Pennsylvania CSF program, as well as SKY Community Partners, and Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools. Company donors to any of the three scholarship programs are eligible to apply to Pennsylvania’s $40 million dollar Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit for credits up to 90% of the donated amount. Click here to learn more.
All rights to this article are reserved by Gloria Blakely. Copyright 2013.
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