Gov. Kathy Hochul is moving forward with New York’s participation in the federal “Freedom Scholarships” program despite fierce opposition from the state’s teachers unions.
The federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, created under President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax-and-spending law, gives individuals and businesses a federal tax credit for donating to organizations that provide education scholarships.
The scholarships can help families pay for private-school tuition and other educational expenses.
Hochul’s decision has put her at odds with major teachers unions, including New York State United Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers. Union leaders have urged the governor to reject the program, arguing that it could divert resources and attention away from public schools.
Supporters of the program say it could give parents more educational options and help students access tutoring, technology, after-school programs and other educational services.
The debate has become another major fight over school choice in New York, with unions and education advocates warning about the impact on public education while school-choice supporters argue families should have greater control over where and how their children are educated.
The program is expected to begin in January 2027, putting New York’s decision at the center of an increasingly heated national debate over public education, private schools, and parental choice.
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