The State budget now under consideration eliminates State funds for the school busing that by law must be provided by local districts for both public and private school students, including our Catholic school students.
Transportation assistance is vital for all our schools, and crucial to those that are struggling in the face of demographic and economic challenges. Working parents are often not in a position to provide or afford school transportation on their own. If the state budget eliminates funding for school transportation, there is a danger that local lawmakers may seek to change the state law that requires them to provide transportation for private school students.
It should be kept in mind that as taxpayers the parents of Catholic school students have a right to expect some services for their children as other taxpayers do. As dedicated taxpayers, our parents depend on safe transportation services for their children.
On a related note, the State Senate unanimously passed a measure to extend a tax credit to include nonpublic school scholarships for lower income families. This inclusion would have had absolutely no fiscal impact on the State budget. The House, however, did not consider it for a vote.
While budget cuts are necessary, our elected leaders must defend mandatory transportation statutes and should increase revenue neutral educational opportunities. If for no other reason, it is estimated that last year, Catholic school parents saved Connecticut taxpayers over $420 million. That is how much it would cost the state to educate the 24,000 children currently in our Catholic schools.
PLEASE CONTACT OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO KEEP OUR BUSES.
