PHONE2ACTION Campaign

Read H 7055

Contact your legislators now

Rhode Island Families for School Choice (RIFSC) has been working diligently towards an increase in the State of Rhode Island Education Corporate Tax Credit Program for several years. The current program was capped at $1.5 million dollars in available tax credits in 2013, and there is no indication that our current Governor intends to increase this program. We need this program to increase in order to provide additional financial aid awards to our very needy student populations.

Rather than sit back and wait for the program to increase one day, RIFSC, along with our colleagues in other non-public schools, decided to take this matter to the public. To that end, an updated and revised website entitled: Rhode Island Families for School Choice, or www.edchoiceri.org was launched to spread the advocacy message and to widen support for this program.

Please visit the website www.edchoiceri.org and ask your entire community to do the same. Take a moment to view the videos posted in both English and Spanish. While on the front page, scroll down to the large blue button that reads CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS and click it open. This will open the Phone2Action campaign page. Enter your name, address, phone and email in the fields required by the Rhode Island State Legislature. Once done, a prescribed email message will automatically be sent to your local Representative and Senator, and copies will be sent to Speaker of the House Mattiello, Representative Abney, Chair of the Finance Council, and Senate President Ruggerio. This Phone2Action campaign will track the number of people who sign up and use it weekly. It is a great way for us to deliver a strong message to members of the General Assembly that we want this program increased. It is simple, quick and very easy to do. Please take a moment now and try it out yourself. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same.

The 2018 Legislative Session has seen a major accomplishment. For the first time ever, our group of volunteers was successful in lobbying for legislation in both Chambers of the General Assembly. House Bill 7055 was introduced by Representative Bob Lancia and Senate Bill 2655 was introduced by Senator Elaine Morgan. Both bills ask that their respective chambers vote to approve an increase in the education tax credit program from $1.5 million to $5 million dollars. Doing so would increase our statewide tax credit financial aid program by 300%. To help spread the message, each student in your school/community will be asked to have their parents or guardians visit the Rhode Island Families for School Choice website. Schools will be notified the dates when these bills will be heard in committee. Your attendance and testimony, along with that of your students would make a world of difference. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at www.edchoiceri.org.