PHILADELPHIA, PA — Pennsylvania scholarship organization BLOCS expects to increase the number of students receiving aid through the state’s Economically Disadvantaged Schools program to more than 40,000 for the 2026-27 school year, a development that could provide additional tuition support to families and enrollment stability for hundreds of participating schools.
The projected increase from approximately 33,000 scholarship recipients last year comes as BLOCS works to raise awards toward the program’s statutory maximum of $2,000 for PreK-8 students and $4,000 for high school students.
BLOCS released preliminary results from the EDS Program and said the growth reflects continued participation in a scholarship model that distributes support across all qualifying students.
The organization serves as the sole administrator of the Economically Disadvantaged Schools Program, which uses Pennsylvania tax-credit funding to provide scholarships for students in qualifying communities throughout the Commonwealth.
During the 2025-26 school year, eligible kindergarten through eighth-grade students received $1,500 scholarships, while qualifying high school students received $3,000 awards.
The anticipated increase in scholarship recipients could affect enrollment and funding across hundreds of participating schools as families gain additional access to private and faith-based educational options.
“These results demonstrate the meaningful impact the EDS Program has on families seeking high-quality education for their children,” BLOCS Chief Executive Officer Rob Delany said. “By providing increased scholarship funds for students, we’re helping more families access schools that align with their aspirations and values.”
The organization said it has launched an online portal designed to provide students, parents, schools and donors with information about scholarship eligibility, funding levels and program impacts.
BLOCS said more than 500 schools participate in its scholarship programs statewide. The organization estimates it will provide more than 40,000 need-based scholarships through its educational assistance initiatives.
The EDS Program is funded through Pennsylvania tax credits and is designed to expand educational opportunities for students in economically disadvantaged communities while providing participating schools with additional tuition support.
Additional information about the program is available at https://www.blocs.org/eds.
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