Pennsylvania Bar Institute

Recently, the concept and use of school vouchers has come to the forefront of political, societal, constitutional, and economical discourse. From Pennsylvania`s proposed legislation to the presidential political debates, school vouchers continue to be a most controversial topic. In general, school voucher programs are designed to provide students with a fixed dollar amount per year to attend the school of their choice. The logic behind this premise is that competition between schools for a student`s dollars would enhance/improve the level of education being provided. As sides in the Pennsylvania School Voucher debate are forming, individuals and organizations on both sides of the debate have passionate arguments about whether vouchers are effective, fair, or even legal. 

Our engaging panel of experts will debate the core legal issues in Senate Bill 1 and address the following topics among others: 

• Mechanics of voucher programs including various models from around nation  
• Accountability and performance standards 
• Religious school and other constitutional issues 

Frank P. Cervone, Esq., Support Center for Child Advocates, Philadelphia