Latest news with #ScholarshipGrantingOrganizations
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How the federal school voucher plan aims to expand private school access across all 50 US states
Federal school voucher plan aims to expand private school access nationwide. (AI Image) A major push is underway in Congress to establish the first national school voucher program in US history. If enacted, the initiative would direct $20 billion in federal tax credits over four years to support private school scholarships , dramatically expanding access to non-public education options across all 50 states. The plan is being advanced by Republicans through the House Ways and Means Committee as part of a broader reconciliation bill that also includes an extension of President Trump's 2017 tax cuts. Supporters of the measure argue it would empower families, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, with greater educational choice. Critics, however, say it would undermine public schools and fail to protect vulnerable student populations. Plan would use tax credits to fund private school scholarships At the core of the proposal is a tax incentive structure that encourages private donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). Donors would receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for their contributions, a generous benefit unmatched by most other charitable deductions. 'It's about three times as generous as what you're gonna get from donating to a children's hospital or a veteran's group or any other cause,' said Carl Davis of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, as quoted by NPR. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 日本の建設作業員の給料（2025年）: 一覧を見る 建設作業員 | 検索広告 詳細 Undo Under the plan, SGOs would distribute scholarships to students for a range of education-related expenses, including private school tuition, books, and homeschooling. The bill caps the total tax credits at $5 billion annually from 2026 through 2029. Eligibility for the scholarships is not limited to low-income families. Students from households earning up to 300% of their area's median gross income would qualify. For instance, in a region with a median income of $70,000, families making up to $210,000 could still receive assistance. Supporters frame the plan as expanding educational freedom Proponents of the plan highlight its potential to give families more control over their educational choices. 'We are one step closer to bringing school choice to every state in America,' said Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children, as reported by NPR. Senator Bill Cassidy, who helped lead the initiative, emphasized the link between school choice and economic opportunity. 'Expanding President Trump's tax cuts is about preserving the American Dream,' Cassidy said, according to NPR. 'Giving parents the ability to choose the best education for their child makes the dream possible.' Critics warn of risks to public education and student protections Opposition to the plan has come swiftly from public education advocates and disability rights groups. 'Vouchers weaken public education and limit opportunities for students,' said NEA President Becky Pringle, as quoted by NPR. She warned that public schools—serving 90% of US students—stand to lose essential per-pupil funding as more students shift to private options. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, expressed concern that families of children with disabilities could mistakenly believe their legal protections will carry over to private schools. In reality, she told NPR, 'It is quite possible that families with disabilities will use a voucher under the pretense that their child will have the same rights when in fact they do not.' Mixed results on academic performance from voucher programs Academic outcomes associated with voucher programs remain contested. According to NPR, early programs showed some positive effects on college attendance, but larger, newer efforts have reported troubling trends—including lower achievement in key subjects like math. Josh Cowen, a professor at Michigan State University with over two decades of voucher research, told NPR, 'The bigger and the more recent the voucher system, the worse the results for kids.' This federal proposal revives an initiative previously attempted during Trump's first term but never passed. To become law, it will need to clear a full vote in the House and secure majority support in the Senate. Invest in Their Tomorrow, Today: Equip your child with the essential AI skills for a future brimming with possibilities | Join Now
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House GOP proposes $5 billion tax credit program to open more charter schools
House Republicans proposed legislation to open more charter schools under a $5 billion tax credit program in a move that would help President Trump fulfill his campaign pledge to provide 'universal school choice' for all parents and students. The tax credit would be applied against 75% of the donation provided by charitable givers to top-performing charter school networks or operators, under the 'High-Quality Charter Schools Act' introduced by upstate Rep. Claudia Tenney and co-sponsored by Staten Island-Brooklyn Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, among others. The tax credit would be capped at 10% of a donor's gross adjusted income. For example, a donor with $1 million in annual income who donates $133,000 for charter school expansion gets a tax credit of $100,000. The measure could be folded into a Republican-crafted budget bill. Both Tenney and Malliotakis sit on the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee. 'Charter schools have a proven track record of success, working to ensure every student, regardless of zip code, is given the opportunity to succeed,' Tenney said. This legislation could triple the number of kids enrolled in charter schools nationwide by 6 million, from 6% to 18% of the public school population, added Tenney. 'Parents know what is best for their children, and by providing parents with options, we can improve educational outcomes across our country,' she said. There are 149,000 students attending 281 charter schools in New York City, accounting for 15% of public school students. The state imposes a cap on the number of charter schools that can open in the city, and that limit has already been reached. 'Charter schools across the country, especially here in New York, are facing demand that far exceeds their capacity,' Malliotakis said. 'I'm proud to join Rep. Tenney in introducing this legislation to ensure students and families have greater access to the school of their choice — while also ensuring taxpayers see a strong return on investment in public education.' The bill is also backed by Reps. Burgess Owens of Utah and Kevin Kiley of California, both of whom sit on the House education panel and have sway on school-related policy matters. Eva Moskowitz, founder of the Success Academy Charter Schools network praised the bill — noting it complements the Education Choice for Children Act. That bill proposes a 100 percent tax credit — a full reimbursement — for 'donations' to nonprofits known as Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), which are then used as vouchers to provide free or reduced tuition at private K-12 schools. 'Together, these policies will demonstrate universal school choice as a national priority,' said Moskowitz, whose Success Academy network oversees 57 schools that enroll 22,000 students, mostly low-income students of color. Republicans are typically stronger backers of school choice programs than Democrats, who by and large are more wedded to financing traditional public schools than publicly-funded, but privately managed charter schools or subsidizing private or parochial schools. Trump reportedly supports the bill, which could be the muscle to make the school choice tax credit programs the law of the land, according to sources. 'I want every parent in America to be empowered to send their child to public, private, charter, or faith-based school of their choice. The time for universal school choice has come. As we return education to the states, I will use every power I have to give parents this right,' Trump said, when discussing his education platform last month.
