Erie County Times

Recently, the Erie Catholic School System (ECSS) announced that Blessed Sacrament School will close at the end of this academic year. This decision marks the conclusion of over 85 years of education provided by the school in the community.

State Senator Dan Laughlin addressed this development, noting that declining enrollment at Blessed Sacrament reflects a broader statewide trend. He attributed this to Pennsylvania's lower birth rate since 2008 and continued outmigration from Erie.

Senator Laughlin emphasized his commitment to education, stating, "No one has fought harder than I have to ensure our students have access to quality learning opportunities." He highlighted an increase in funding for the Erie School District by $100 million annually since he took office. However, he also advocated for competition and choice in education, suggesting that it benefits all industries.

Despite record funding for public schools amid declining enrollment, private school students like those at Blessed Sacrament have not received similar support. The state allocated $16.8 billion for public schools this year but offered no increase for private institutions.

The ECSS participates in Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship program, which faces limitations due to an arbitrary cap on applications. In 2021-22 alone, more than 63,000 applications were denied. Senator Laughlin expressed support for expanding EITC and criticized Gov. Josh Shapiro's resistance to school choice initiatives.

Another proposed solution is the Lifeline Scholarship Program or Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS). This initiative would provide educational savings accounts to students from low-performing public schools. Although Gov. Shapiro initially supported Lifeline Scholarships during his campaign, he later vetoed a $100 million program passed by both legislative houses.

Senator Laughlin suggested that increased access to these programs could have boosted enrollment at Blessed Sacrament and other small schools across the state: "If even a couple of hundred more students in the public system had the choice to attend private schools with help from their tax dollars... smaller schools across the state... would have had a fighting chance."

He concluded by expressing sympathy for families affected by Blessed Sacrament's closure: "For the families who consider Blessed Sacrament their home, the loss is devastating."