QP New York Says Yes to Scholarships--Oregon Should Too

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her intent this month to opt into the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit—also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit. That makes her the 30th governor to signal support, and the second Democrat to do so, after Jared Polis of Colorado.Congress created this tax credit last year as the first federal program designed to expand K–12 educational choice nationwide. Beginning in 2027 all taxpayers can take up to $1,700 in federal tax credits for donations to qualified scholarship granting organizations.The U.S. Treasury and Department of Education estimate the program could generate $24 billion in new education funding every year. That’s enough to fund private school tuition for tens of thousands of students—or tutoring for hundreds of thousands more.But here’s the catch: children only benefit if their governor opts in. And Oregon’s Governor Kotek, has declined. Last summer she said that she did not intend to participate. More recently, saying that she’s waiting for final federal regulations.Whether Oregon opts in or not, Oregonians can still take the tax credit by donating to scholarship nonprofits in other states. If Oregon stays out, however, those dollars will support students elsewhere, not here at home.Opting in won’t cost Oregon’s budget a dime and it doesn’t impact public school funding. It simply allows Oregonians to direct private charitable dollars towards scholarships for Oregon’s kids.Thirty states have already said yes. Oregon should, too.For Cascade Policy Institute, I’m Naomi Inman.Learn more at www.cascadepolicy.org