Public education is a common good vital to our American democracy. Yet a coordinated assault by the Trump Administration is underway to dismantle it.
The federal private school voucher scheme passed in July’s budget reconciliation package, is a serious threat to our public schools. By encouraging states to opt into a federal dollar-for-dollar tax credit program, it aims to privatize education.
States have till January 1, 2027, to decide whether they will opt in the federal program. All citizens must understand what this program actually does and why governors must reject it, including Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore.
The federal voucher program creates an individual tax credit (up to $1,700) for cash contributions made to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) that distribute school vouchers.
It’s a dollar-for-dollar swap. If an individual contributes $1,700 or less to an SGO, the federal government credits that exact amount right back to them when they file their federal taxes, but only if they owe federal taxes.
Families can receive these vouchers if they live in an opt-in state, have a household income no greater than 300% of the area median gross income, and are eligible to enroll in a private school. In many counties, this means families making over $500,000 qualify.
SGOs are allowed to keep a staggering 10% for administrative costs. Furthermore, they must verify family incomes but are not required to ensure that private schools comply with civil rights laws, academic standards, teacher certification mandates, or testing requirements.
Here is why opting into this federal scheme is a losing battle for communities and students:
- It siphons away federal tax dollars that should be used to strengthen public education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
- It subsidizes the wealthy on the backs of taxpayers – the wealthy families who already send their children to private schools will receive a taxpayer-funded discount, while underfunded public schools bear the brunt of the loss.
- It has no spending cap and initial estimates suggest the program could cost taxpayers anywhere from $8 billion to $51 billion per year.
- Unlike public schools, which are legally bound to serve every child equitably, private schools receiving these voucher funds can selectively filter students.
- It’s a “Slippery Slope” - data proves that once a voucher program starts, it predictably expands in scope, cost, and eligibility, choking public school funding until it is starved out entirely.
The overarching goal of pro-voucher extremists is clear: to strangle public education.
Private education vouchers are fundamentally unpopular with voters across the political spectrum. Every single time vouchers have been put directly to voters at the ballot box in red, blue, and purple states, they have been heavily defeated.
Public education belongs to everyone. To protect our students, our communities, and our democracy, governors must refuse to opt in.
2026-10-05 AFT Maryland staff