New York governor opts state into Trump's education scholarship program

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 02:25 · Archive

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has opted the state into President Trump's federal Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarship program despite opposition from teachers unions.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that she is opting the state into President Trump's Education Freedom Tax Credit, a federal scholarship program. The decision comes after the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued regulations for the program last week. Hochul becomes the most prominent Democratic governor from a large blue state to join the scheme, following 30 mostly Republican-led states that have already opted in.

The Education Freedom Tax Credit provides a 100% federal tax credit to individuals for donations of up to $1,700 annually to approved scholarship-granting organisations. These nonprofits then offer scholarships that families can use to pay for private school tuition. Public school students are also eligible for scholarships to cover tutoring, after-school programmes, transportation costs and other educational needs. The programme could benefit more than 2.7 million New York students.

Hochul stated that she had made the decision after careful review of the federal regulations. She said the programme had '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'. The teachers union and other public school advocates have opposed the programme, launching a petition demanding that Hochul reject it. The petition argued that the programme diverts tax dollars to help private school tuition for families who never used public schools.

How it is being reported

• Gov Kathy Hochul signs New York onto Trump's school choice program despite teachers union oppositionNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul joined President Donald Trump's Education Freedom Tax Credit despite fierce opposition from teachers unions and a petition to reject it.Fox News · 10 Oct, 02:03
• Hochul officially opts NY into Trump admin’s ‘Freedom’ scholarships for studentsHochul faced fierce opposition from the teachers union.New York Post · 9 Oct, 21:22

In this story: Kathy Hochul · Donald Trump · New York · Treasury Department · Internal Revenue Service

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