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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday signed on to join President Donald Trump’s school choice program despite opposition from teachers unions.
“Every parent wants their child to have a great education and the best possible chance to succeed. That’s what guides my decisions as Governor,” Hochul announced on Friday.
“New York’s public schools are the backbone of communities across this state,” she went on to say. “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.”
GOV HOCHUL’S PLAN TO OPT NEW YORK INTO FEDERAL SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM DRAWS UNION OPPOSITION
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, speaks during a rally outside the US Department of Education headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Despite Hochul’s stated intention to participate, major labor groups and teachers unions remain staunchly opposed. A coalition of teachers unions and other public school advocates launched a petition demanding that Hochul reject the program.
“Gov. Hochul plans to opt New York in starting in 2027. But most New Yorkers haven’t even heard of this program or know how it will affect New York,” the petition states. “Tax dollars would help pay private tuition for families who never used public schools.”
Sydney Altfield, Scholarships for All Founder and Teach Coalition CEO, told Digital, “This is a tremendous day for New Yorkers. Millions of children across our state will now have access to scholarships that can help pay for tutoring, after-school programs and other educational needs.”
“Governor Hochul has kept her promise to New York families, helping put money back into the pockets of hardworking parents while expanding educational opportunities for children across the state,” she added.
PRO-TRUMP GROUP LEADS NEW COALITION TO UNDERCUT TEACHERS UNIONS
Trump’s landmark school choice program comes as major blue city school districts struggle to retain students since the coronavirus pandemic. (Getty Images)
Hochul’s announcement came after the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued proposed regulations Oct. 1 to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program, paving the way for America’s first nationwide school choice framework.
The initiative, also referred to as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, allows individual taxpayers to receive up to a $1,700 dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for donations made to non-profit scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). However, state governors must formally opt into the program for their residents and local educational organizations to participate and receive the funds.
The IRS recently reported that more than half of U.S. states have already signed up to participate. Burke noted that “competitive pressure” will ultimately force blue states to capture the influx of private donations.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously noted that some Democratic leaders have resisted the federal scholarship program simply because “it’s a Trump measure.”
Democratic governors who have traditionally opposed school choice initiatives will face mounting competitive pressure to join Trump’s program as states weigh whether to participate and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul moves to formally opt in, a top Department of Education official told Digital.
Kentucky has since formally joined the federal program after the state legislature overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto of opt-in legislation.
Unlike traditional voucher programs that draw directly from municipal or state public education funds, tax credit scholarships allow taxpayers to redirect a portion of their federal tax liability toward non-profit funding for student scholarships. The federal framework leaves the opt-in decision to state governors, enabling local families to access federally incentivized scholarship dollars.
“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. 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 public schools or our state or local budgets,” Hochul said.
“I’m not going to leave money on the table when it could help our kids,” she added. “That’s why I have also been directly engaging with business leaders, who have committed to use this program to support public school students and their academic needs. 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.”
MORE THAN 400K NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN ENROLLED IN FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOLS: REPORT
New York Governor Kathy Hochul holds a press conference in New York, March 3, 2025. (David Dee Delgado/Reuters)
For decades, school choice initiatives have remained a third-rail issue for many Democrats, who contend that choice models weaken public school systems and undermine labor unions. However, growing parent demand for alternative education options — including charter schools, private schooling and homeschooling following the COVID-19 pandemic — has pushed several prominent Democrats to reevaluate their positions.
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Trump’s landmark school choice program comes as major blue city school districts struggle to retain students since the coronavirus pandemic.
