The Education Exchange Ep. 401 - July 14, 2025 - “Congress Swung for the Fences on School Choice and Hit a Single”
Jul 14, 2025
Robert Enlow, President and CEO of EdChoice, dives into the recent federal tax credit scholarship provision passed by Congress. He discusses its potential to help low- to moderate-income families access private education, while exploring its impacts on public schools. Enlow highlights the complexities of school choice, including political dynamics affecting approval processes and funding disparities across states. The discussion reveals both optimism and significant challenges regarding the accessibility and effectiveness of these new educational funding initiatives.
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Modest Impact of New Legislation
- The new federal scholarship tax credit program is a modest but important step for school choice.
- It will mostly help families in red states and requires significant implementation effort.
Funding Scale and Eligibility
- The $1,700 federal tax credit is permanent but limited, requiring many donors to fund meaningful scholarships.
- It's broad in income eligibility, covering families up to 300% of state median income.
States Must Opt In to Participate
- Governors or state agencies must opt in and approve scholarship-granting organizations for the program.
- Advocates should focus on influencing state leaders to initiate and designate approved organizations for scholarships.