Last Wednesday, middle school students from Yeshiva Ktana of Waterbury traveled to the Connecticut statehouse in Hartford. The purpose of their visit, however, was more than just a school trip; the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders attended the Joint Finance Committee hearing to show their support of HB 5101, a bill that would establish a tax credit scholarship program in the state of Connecticut.
Scholarship tax credit programs allow donors to receive tax credits when they contribute to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships for students to attend nonpublic schools.
Silka Stroh, an eighth grader in YKW, testified on behalf of her fellow students explaining succinctly and passionately why a tax credit scholarship program would benefit her school, her parents, and the State:
“My parents [and] the parents of all my friends and fellow classmates sacrifice tremendously to send them to Yeshiva Ktana … because they understand that nothing is more important to the development and future of their children than their educational setting. Please pass HB5101 so that … other parents who have the same dreams and hopes as mine do can see those dreams turn into a reality.”
In addition to Ms. Stroh’s testimony, fourteen community members testified in front of the Committee with over fifty more submitting written testimony in support of HB5101.
“Lawmakers approached me throughout the day telling me how impressed they were with our school and with our testimonies,” said Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld, director of Agudath Israel of America’s Connecticut Office. “Our presence and advocacy in the statehouse were well-noted.”