Should Democratic States Opt Into Trump's Stealth School Voucher Plan?

Here’s a question that Democratic governors across the country will have to wrestle with in the months ahead: should they opt into President Trump’s upcoming federal tax credit scholarship program, or hold the line against what will be the first federally funded private school voucher scheme?Because of the sweeping nature of the plan, this is a follow up to an earlier episode of Education on the Line examining on the issue.  The program, approved by Congress as part of the  One Big Beautiful Bill, allows every taxpayer to "donate" up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting organizations -- and then get the entire amount refunded to them in the form of a tax credit on their federal income taxes.  The scholarship organizations then dole out the money to parents with children enrolled in private and religious schools to cover tuition and other educational costs. Some funds could be used to cover some expenses like computers and extra tutoring not currently covered by taxpayers..  Most Republican governors already have already "opted in."  In our latest episode, we go inside the debate as it’s playing out in Illinois, where two prominent Democrats are publicly at odds. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza says it’s a no-brainer: Illinois taxpayers fund the program either way, and opting out just means that money flows to children in other states. Meanwhile, Gov. Jay Pritzker seems inclined to reject it. In April, The Chicago public school board voted unanimously to oppose it.  Louis Freedberg interviews Comptroller Mendoza and Cassie Creswell of Illinois Families for Public Schools, who see the issue differently, as do dozens of other advocacy organizations. Cresswell says participating in the program would further expand a private school ecosystem the state can’t control, at exactly the moment public schools are already under severe financial and other pressures.We talk with both Mendoza and Cresswell to understand the issues for and against. Their debate offers insights into how the issue could play out in other states. Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.Sign up here so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.