About ORED




Contact Us Cascade Policy Institute 4850 SW Scholls Ferry Road Suite #103 Portland, OR 97225 Phone: (503) 242-0900 Fax: (503) 242-3822 info@cascadepolicy.org Jill, age 8, from Grants Pass would benefit from the tax credit. "Indeed, a tax credit would help greatly with the educational costs of our children. We are at the limits of what our income can afford right now and hope to offer our children the best possible educational opportunties." —Washington County Parent "Our family lives on one income and teaches three children at home. We still pay taxes for school... we are saving the taxpayers $30,000 per year by educating our children ourselves. A $3,000 tax credit to our family would seem reasonable." —Multnomah County Parent Aspen, age 7, from St. Helens would benefit from the tax credit. "We are home educating our children. My son is taking college classes in high school. This proposal would help pay for the ‘advanced placement’ classes he is taking. There are over 130 home school students attending Clackamas Community College." —Clackamas County Parents "I am a home educator, for my son, because the school that I pay tax dollars to could not meet my child’s educational needs." —Portland Parent Noah, age 9, from Portland would benefit from the tax credit. "As a teacher at a private school I see how the parents put so much energy and money towards an education that will most benefit their children. I believe they should get supported in this endeavor." —Marion County Educator "I have two children, ages 15 and 13, who have attended private school since Kindergarten. My family has gone deeply into debt to make that happen, effectively paying the equivalent of college fees since the children were six, yet still paying the taxes that fund public schools we do not use. I really want my children to graduate from their excellent private school, and still have the ability to send them to college!" —Yamhill County Parent "The tax credit would help us offset the considerable cost of private education for our three girls." —Portland Parent "We have three children in a small Catholic school. We struggle every year to send them, yet it's worth it because of the excellent education they receive. This proposal would help us tremendously." —Marion County Parent The Oregon Education Tax Credit Coalition (ORED) has been created by Cascade Policy Institute to advocate for The Rose Friedman Educational Opportunity Tax Credit. ORED builds on the work of the School Choice Working Group which supported House Bill 3010 in the last Oregon Legislative Session. Although HB 3010 failed by one vote in the House Education Committee, the struggle to give low-income students more educational options continues. Education tax credits are already available in other states. Tens of thousands of low-income students have already gained access to a high-quality education due to these programs. STATES WITH EDUCATION TAX CREDITS: IOWA -- Educational Opportunities Act (2006): Iowa residents can receive a credit on their personal state income taxes for donations to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), which are non-profit charitable organizations that distribute scholarships to low-income students. ARIZONA -- Corporate tuition tax credit scholarship program (2007): Arizona corporations can receive tax credits for contributions to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), which are non-profit charitable organizations that distribute scholarships to low-income students. FLORIDA -- Step Up for Students Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program (2001): Florida corporations can receive a tax credit on their state income taxes for donations made to Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs) which distribute scholarships to low-income students. PENNSYLVANIA -- Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (2001): Pennsylvania corporations can receive a tax credit for a donation to Scholarship Organizations (SOs) or Educational Improvement Organizations (EIOs), which distribute scholarships to low-income students. RHODE ISLAND -- Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Program (2006): Rhode Island corporations may receive a tax credit for donations to Scholarship Organizations (SOs) which distribute scholarships to low-income students. GEORGIA -- Educational Opportunities Act (2008): Georgia residents and corporations can receive a credit on their personal state income taxes for donations to Scholarship Organizations which are non-profit charitable organizations that distribute scholarships to low-income students.