Teachers Union Urges Hochul to Reject Trump's 'School Choice' Plan
Teachers unions say the tax credit would divert students and funding from public schools as Hochul weighs joining the federal program.
- On Wednesday, teachers unions and civil rights leaders rallied in Lower Manhattan to urge New York Governor Kathy Hochul to reject President Donald Trump's federal tax-credit scholarship program, arguing it would siphon students and resources from public schools.
- The Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows taxpayers to claim up to $1,700 in federal credits for donations to scholarship organizations; Hochul signaled interest in participating last spring, awaiting federal regulations expected later this month.
- AFT President Randi Weingarten warned the program "is meant to actually take money out of public schools," arguing it allows private institutions to exclude students with disabilities and those from high-poverty backgrounds.
- TEACH Coalition CEO Sydney Altfield countered that opting in would help families with affordability, while Hochul's office maintained the credits could expand academic opportunities for all students without diverting public resources.
- With the program taking effect in January 2027, Hochul faces pressure from both sides while running for reelection against Republican Bruce Blakeman, as thirty states have already opted in, though most Democratic governors have firmly rejected the initiative.
30 Articles
30 Articles
Hochul vows to opt into Trump admin’s ‘Freedom’ scholarships despite opposition from teachers union
The Education Freedom Tax Credit approved by Congress and President Trump last year, but leaders of the teachers unions and other public school advocates claimed the program is a back-door privatization scheme aimed at siphoning taxpayers dollars from public schools.
Teachers union urges Hochul to reject Trump’s ‘school choice’ plan
(The Center Square) — Teachers’ unions want New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to walk back plans to join the Trump administration’s “school choice” program, claiming that it would divert students and money from public schools. In remarks on Wednesday, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called on Hochul to reverse her plans to opt into a federal tax-credit scholarship program passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by Pres…
Teachers union urges Hochul to reject Trump's 'school choice' plan
(The Center Square) — Teachers' unions want New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to walk back plans to join the Trump administration's “school choice” program, claiming that it would divert students and money from public schools.
Will Democrats Reject Free Money for Schools?
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