KidsPeace has been approved as a scholarship organization under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) / Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) Programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
What is EITC?
The EITC program is a way for businesses to enrich educational opportunities for students and earn tax credits by donating to an Educational Improvement Organization. Through EITC, eligible businesses can receive tax credits equal to 75% of their contribution, up to $750,000 per taxable year. The tax credit may be increased to 90% of the contribution if the business agrees to provide the same amount for two consecutive tax years.
What is the OSTC Program?
This program provides tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to an Opportunity Scholarship Organization. Business contributions are then used by Opportunity Scholarship Organizations to provide tuition assistance in the form of scholarships to eligible students residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school to attend another public school outside of their district or nonpublic school. A low-achieving school is defined as a public elementary or secondary school ranking in the bottom 15 percent of their designation as an elementary or secondary school based upon combined math and reading Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores.
Why donate to KidsPeace?
KidsPeace is home to two EITC/OSTC approved programs.
The first is our “Advances” Program at our Berks Campus, located at 704 Hay Road, Temple, Pennsylvania. This school-based partial hospitalization service was developed for students in need of emotional support with a combination of academics. Blending both mental health treatment with academic support, makes it possible for us to help our students adequately function in their public schools and communities.
The second is the Donley Therapeutic Education Center, located at our Orchard Hills Campus in Orefield, Pennsylvania. Orchard Hills is home to our Residential Care Program and Children’s Psychiatric Hospital. When a child is placed in our care in Orchard Hills, they live on campus and receive comprehensive therapeutic support while they overcome their crisis. In addition, they also attend our on-campus school at the Donley Therapeutic Education Center every day – Monday through Friday – to ensure they stay on track with their education for when they return home. Unfortunately, many of our students are three to four years behind their peer group academically due to their mental health challenges, making education a top priority for KidsPeace.
Your EITC / OSTC donation helps to ensure EVERY CHILD – no matter their household income – can get the education they need during this difficult time in their life.
In 2022, our goal was to maintain skill levels identified prior to the COVID-19 shutdown of schools. 80% of our student population experienced gains in their academic performance in math and 83% of students showed academic improvement in their reading scores during their residential placement with KidsPeace.
How to donate:
Please call Missy Hartney, KidsPeace Director of Development, to learn more about how your organization can contribute to our EITC/OSTC programs at 610-799-8071 or email at melissa.hartney@kidspeace.org
