Gov. Kathy Hochul is officially opting New York into a federal “education freedom” tax credit scholarship program championed by President Trump that could benefit more than 2.7 million New York public, parochial and private school students — despite opposition from the powerful teachers’ union.
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that → opt → union
Hochul announced Friday her backing of the program for the next school year after reviewing regulations issued last week by the Treasury Department and the IRS.
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Hochul → announce → Department
The Education Freedom Tax Credit approved by Congress and Trump last year provides a 100% federal tax credit to individuals for donations of up to $1,700 annually to approved scholarship-granting organizations.
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Credit → approve → organizations
The nonprofit groups would then offer scholarships, which families from all private schools could use to defray tuition costs.
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families → offer → costs
Public school students are also eligible for scholarships to cover tutoring, after-school programs or transportation costs.
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students → cover → school
Under the law, the governor of each state has to decide whether to opt in or out of what the Trump administration calls the “school choice” program.
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administration → have → what
Thirty mostly Republican-led states have already joined the program and Hochul becomes the most prominent Democratic governor from a large blue state to opt in.
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Hochul → lead → state
“I’ve been clear from the start that New York would participate in the federal scholarship tax credit program if, and only if, all schools and students, including those in our public schools, could benefit,” Hochul told The Post.
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Hochul → participate → Post
“After a careful review of the federal regulations, we believe this program has the potential to bring millions of additional dollars to New York students and families without taking a single dollar from our state or local budgets.”
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program → believe → budgets
Hochul added, “I’m not going to leave money on the table when it could help our kids.
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it → add → kids
I look forward to working with education leaders across the state to make sure these resources reach students in every community.
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resources → look → community
My commitment to public education has not changed, and it never will.”
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it → change → education
Having New York opt into the program has been the top policy priority of coalitions representing parochial schools — the Teach Coalition for Jewish schools or yeshivas and the New York Catholic Conference on behalf of their religious schools.
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York → have → schools
But leaders of the teachers’ unions and other public school advocates — including the NAACP and the NYCLU — claimed the program is a back-door privatization scheme aimed at siphoning taxpayer dollars from public schools.
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program → include → schools
The state’s legislative leaders — Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) — this week joined the unions in opposing the Empire State’s participation in the program.
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leaders → join → program
“I am apprehensive about this federal proposal and have serious reservations about the potential impact it could have on public schools across New York State,” Stewart-Cousins said, while Heastie said the state should invest in public schools.
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state → have → schools
“Public dollars should support public schools that serve all children and are accountable to the taxpayers who fund them,” he said.
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he → support → them
United Federation of Teachers President Mike Mulgrew blasted the move.
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Mulgrew → blast → move
“This isn’t about education,” Mulgrew said.
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Mulgrew → say → education
“It is about the federal government worming its way into classrooms across the state.”
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government → worm → state
But Democrat Hochul, who is seeking re-election to a second term and is backed by the teachers unions, said she disagrees with her labor allies regarding the merits of the scholarship program.
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she → seek → program
The tax credit is funded by private donations and is not a voucher program.
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credit → fund → donations
Taxpayer-funded vouchers can typically only be used toward tuition at non-public schools, whereas the federal tax-credit scholarship can be used by eligible students in public schools, her office said.
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office → fund → schools
Donors to a scholarship-granting organization will receive a federal tax credit equal to their contribution, an incentive to give.
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Donors → grant → contribution
The only cost is measured in foregone lost federal tax revenue via the credit, the governor’s office said.
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office → measure → credit
Children from low-income families will be eligible for funds to pay for educational support they would not otherwise have access to, Hochul’s office said.
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office → pay → access
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Report → start → news
Hochul insisted she’s helping, not hurting, public school students by opting into the federal scholarship program.
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she → insist → program
“Every parent wants their child to have a great education and the best possible chance to succeed.
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child → want → education
That’s what guides my decisions as Governor.
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what → ’ → Governor
That’s why I’ve made historic investments in public education, increasing school funding by more than $10 billion and fully funding Foundation Aid for the first time.”
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I → ’ → time
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