“The proposed regulations the Treasury Department and the IRS issued last week on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit only intensified our concern that this tax credit voucher scheme will rob our country’s public schools of the resources they need to educate the next generation. This program is designed to enrich private schools, which can still turn away students with disabilities, children who are LGBTQIA+, and those in low-income families, while leaving millions of public school children worse off than they are today. Every governor who recognizes the need for universal public education, and its importance to having a well-prepared workforce and a strong economy, should refuse to allow her or his state to participate.

“We are especially concerned that the proposed regulations prohibit states from setting additional standards for the Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that will hand out the vouchers, virtually ensuring that tax dollars will be diverted to private schools that discriminate. Wealthy donors will get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit and families earning up to three times their area's median income, including many already paying private tuition, can collect the scholarships. Our public schools and those they serve will suffer. Put simply, this program will result in more segregation and more discrimination in education.

“As the mom of New York City public school students and a former public school teacher, I know how important public education is. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program Republicans are pushing is designed to divert public funds our public schools rely on to unaccountable private schools. America’s moms want public funds to support public schools that serve all our children. No state should agree to participate.”