At a glance
Pennsylvania has two well-known tax-credit scholarship programs — the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) — plus a large public charter and cyber-charter sector. It does not currently have a statewide ESA or voucher.
This state's choice programs
Under EITC and OSTC, businesses (and some individuals) donate to scholarship organizations in exchange for a state tax credit; those organizations award private-school scholarships to income-eligible students (OSTC prioritizes students in lower-performing school zones). Both programs are capped, so scholarships are limited by available funds.
Eligibility
Scholarships are for income-eligible students (with OSTC adding a lower-performing-school-zone priority), subject to program caps. Confirm current income limits.
Applying
Apply through a participating scholarship organization (find them via the PA Department of Community & Economic Development / a school). Confirm the list and requirements.
Public school choice, too
Remember: “school choice” also includes public options available in every state:
- Open enrollment / transfersAttend a public school outside your zone, where allowed (see our finding-your-school guide)
- Charter schoolsTuition-free public schools of choice (where available)
- Magnet schoolsTuition-free public schools with a specialized focus
- HomeschoolingLegal in all 50 states (rules vary)
Tips for families
- Confirm the current programThis area changes fast — verify eligibility, amounts, and deadlines
- Watch the deadlines & capsMany programs have windows and funding caps
- Understand what’s coveredESAs are flexible; vouchers usually cover tuition only
- Check your school participatesNot every private school accepts every program
- Combine with school aidChoice funds can stack with a school’s own financial aid
Frequently asked questions
- Does Pennsylvania have a private-school-choice program?Yes — Pennsylvania has the EITC and OSTC tax-credit scholarships (income-limited, capped); no statewide ESA/voucher.
- What’s the difference between an ESA and a voucher?A voucher pays a private school directly; an ESA is a flexible parent-managed account for many approved expenses.
- What is a tax-credit scholarship?Donors get a tax credit for giving to organizations that fund private-school scholarships.
- Is there public school choice too?Yes — open enrollment, charters, and magnets (plus homeschooling).
- Where do I confirm the details?On the official state program site (see below).
At a glance
- ProgramsEITC & OSTC (tax-credit scholarships)
- TypeTax-credit scholarships (income-limited, capped)
- NoStatewide ESA or voucher
- PlusPublic charters & cyber charters
- Confirm withA scholarship organization
Where to confirm
Confirm current programs and eligibility with the official source: