Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ) Announces Education Legislation - "Affordable Tutoring for Our Children Act" -
at Verona Sylvan Learning Center
The Legislation Makes High Quality Supplemental Instruction More Affordable for Our Nation's Middle Class Families
(Verona, NJ, February 1, 2010) – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today announced his legislative initiative, the "Affordable Tutoring for Our Children Act," during a ceremony at the Sylvan Learning center in Verona, New Jersey. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Pascrell on December 16, 2009, offers an educational and economic lifeline to middle class families struggling to provide their children with the best possible supplemental educational services. Local government officials, tutoring industry leaders, and Sylvan students and families were also on-hand to voice support for the initiative and its benefit to the middle class, as well as its potential to stimulate the nation's economy.
"It is our honor to host this very important educational event and support Congressman Pascrell's vital initiative to provide middle class families more affordable access to supplemental educational services for their children," said Jeffrey Cohen, CEO of Sylvan Learning. "At Sylvan, we know that quality, effective tutoring can truly be life-changing for students and their families. During the past 30 years, we have worked with more than 2 million students, enabling them to discover the joy of learning and reach their goals. Today, just when the need is greater than ever, middle class families are struggling for access to supplemental education programs. We urge Congress to pass this legislation quickly, so all of our nation's middle class students have greater access to affordable tutoring."
The legislation, whose U.S. Senate counterpart, S. 744, was introduced by U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) in April 2009, will allow middle class families to access their dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA) to pay for supplemental instructional services for children between the ages of 5 and 19 who have not obtained a high school diploma. The incentive would be available to employees earning under $110,000. Supplemental instructional expenses, combined with dependent care expenses, would be subject to a cap of $5,000.
H.R. 4391 has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. This legislation will allow employees to pay for tutoring services with funds from flexible spending accounts set up for their children – free from payroll or income taxes.
"At Sylvan, we take pride in helping students each day to develop skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success. Thanks to Congressman Pascrell, middle class families will now have greater access to essential tutoring that students need in order to meet academic challenges and to become successful in the workforce," said Joyce Carusi, owner and center director of Sylvan Learning in Verona, NJ.
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