By Aaron Weston
Oley Valley School District
For those who may not be familiar with it, the Education Income Tax Credit program allows businesses to redirect a portion of their existing Pennsylvania tax liability to support approved educational programs in their school district. Participation in the EITC program does not increase a company’s tax burden. Instead, it empowers businesses to choose where a portion of their current tax dollars is being used. By enrolling in the EITC program, local companies can directly support innovative learning opportunities within their local school districts while receiving substantial tax credits from the state.
As superintendent of the Oley Valley School District, I am continually reminded of how fortunate we are to have a community that is dedicated to investing in the future of our children. One of the most impactful partnerships supporting this mission is our ongoing collaboration with the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation, or OVCEF, through Pennsylvania’s EITC program.
Thanks to the generosity of participating businesses and the stewardship of OVCEF, our district has been able to bring forward-thinking, hands-on learning tools into our classrooms — tools that truly transform how students learn. Projects supported by the EITC program often include elements of STEM (science, technology, education and math), arts, humanities, social sciences and career and college readiness.
At the Oley Valley School District, EITC funding has supported projects such as:
• Funding aspects of our Biomedical Pathway courses, including two Anatomage Tables and laboratory equipment, giving students access to interactive, life-sized 3-D anatomy exploration typically found only in colleges and medical programs.
• Enhancements to our Agricultural Engineering and Animal Science curricula, including a fully equipped veterinary tech Table and a chicken coop, expanding real-world agricultural learning opportunities.
• A dynamic middle school TV studio where students learn every aspect of broadcast production — operating cameras, editing video, writing scripts and developing on-air confidence.
• TIPS (Teachers in the Parks), a beloved summer program that keeps students engaged through interactive, joyful lessons designed to prevent the “summer slide.”
• Hydroponics and aquaponics systems at the elementary school, introducing students to modern agriculture, environmental science and sustainability — right in their own classrooms.
These initiatives represent only a small portion of what OVCEF has been able to bring to life through EITC contributions. Each project provides students with meaningful, relevant, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for success in an ever-evolving world.
As we continue to grow these opportunities, I invite all local businesses — large and small — to consider participating in the EITC program. This is a powerful way to invest in your local community school district by directing tax dollars you already pay toward programs that inspire, challenge, and empower students. Over the past five years, OVCEF has collected more than $400,000 in EITC contributions.
More information about how to enroll in the EITC program, including eligibility requirements and application details, can be found at www.oleyvalleycef.com/earned-income-tax-credit.
On behalf of the Oley Valley School District, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation and to the businesses that continue to support our mission. Together, we are creating opportunities that will benefit our students for years to come. I would also like to extend a very special thank you to Jennifer Schorr for her dedicated and tireless service as the OVCEF executive director.
