Posted on 01/29/25
New York, NY - Jan. 29, 2025 - Agudath Israel of America is applauding Senators Bill Cassidy (R- LA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Burgess Owens (R-UT), for once again leading the effort to enact a federal scholarship tax credit program. The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) unveiled today as part of National School Choice Week will provide ten billion dollars’ worth of tax credits each year to individual and corporate taxpayers to support K-12 educational expenses including private school tuition.
The proposed bill, which Agudath Israel helped craft with the sponsors and coalition partners, would allow a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to ten percent of an individual taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI) or $5,000 (whichever is higher) and up to five percent of a corporation’s taxable income for contributions made to a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGO would then provide scholarships to children of eligible families for approved educational expenses. Scholarship eligibility is extended to families earning 300% of the median income in that area (see chart), which means a very large percentage of the families in our community will be able to benefit from the program.
Through its network of regional offices, Agudah has been at the forefront of promoting similar legislation in state capitals and currently, more than twenty states have scholarship tax credit programs which have helped hundreds of thousands of students attend the school of their choice, public or private. Jewish day school families, among many others, have been beneficiaries of such programs. A federal tax credit would enhance existing programs and open up more educational opportunities in states where no program exists currently.
This issue, particularly this bill, has been at the forefront of Agudath Israel’s agenda for several years, and its momentum has been steadily building. Last session, Agudah successfully worked with its allies to garner the support of more than 180 members of Congress and help it pass the important House Ways and Means Committee.
Earlier today, Agudah shared an action alert (HERE) with its members asking them to reach out to members of Congress and ask for their support of this game changing legislation.
“We encourage lawmakers, to put a bipartisan stamp on the common-sense policy that is at the heart of this bill: Assisting parents to access the learning environment and the educational benefits that are best suited for their children, and that will enhance educational achievement for all of America’s students," said Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel of America’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director.
“While school choice is advancing across the nation, nearly half of the states in this country have not yet enacted any such program,” said Rabbi Avi Schnall, Agudath Israel of America’s Director of Federal Education Affairs. “This bill will allow parents in all 50 states to benefit from educational freedom.”
“During his campaign for president, Donald Trump promised to promote universal school choice in all 50 states and even pledged to sign this legislation,” noted Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s National Director of Government Affairs. “Agudah and its allies urge Congressional leaders and the Administration to include this proposal in any budget deal so that it can become law this session and begin to help students across the country.”
For more information about the bill go to Agudah.org/schoolchoice