Hochul officially opts NY into Trump admins Freedom scholarships for students
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.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.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.The nonprofit groups would then offer scholarships, which families from all private schools could use to defray tuition costs.Public school students are also eligible for scholarships to cover tutoring, after-school programs or transportation costs.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.
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.“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.“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.”Hochul added, “I’m not going to leave money on the table when it could help our kids.I look forward to working with education leaders across the state to make sure these resources reach students in every community.
My commitment to public education has not changed, and it never will.”Ha...