Full Breakdown
Education Secretary Urges Washington to Join Federal School-Choice Tax Credit
By Drooid · · How we work
Federal Push for the Education Freedom Tax Credit
Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited a Spokane private school to ask Governor Bob Ferguson to opt Washington into the Trump administration’s Education Freedom Tax Credit. The program, slated to begin in 2027, lets taxpayers claim a credit of up to $1,700 per donor (or $3,400 for married couples) for contributions to federally approved scholarship-granting organizations. Those organizations could then award K-12 students scholarships for tuition, tutoring, transportation and other approved uses. States must decide by the end of the year; 31 states have already opted in, including two Democratic governors, Kathy Hochul of New York and Jared Polis of Colorado.
Mechanics and Cost Projections
Eligibility is set at three times an area’s median income, covering roughly 96 % of U.S. children. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates annual costs of $3-4 billion, rising to $25.9 billion by 2034. Treasury projects nearly $26 billion in qualified write-offs by 2030, while the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy warns the yearly cost could exceed $100 billion if half of eligible taxpayers claim the credit. The Department of Treasury and IRS anticipate that 2 million kids could receive $12,000 scholarships each year by 2030.
State Officials’ Responses
Governor Ferguson’s office indicated no decision has been made. Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane) framed the credit as “empowering parents” and argued it would benefit public-school students. The Washington Association of School Administrators, led by Jeff Snell, urged a cautious approach, suggesting the state wait to see how the program unfolds before committing.
Opposition from Public-Education Leaders
State public-school head Chris Reykdal warned the credit could divert public funds to private schools with limited state oversight.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Every child, regardless of ZIP code or family income, deserves an education that reflects their family’s values and prepares them to succeed,” — Linda McMahon, education secretary
- “This is probably the most significant education policy reform, at least in the last 50 years, to create a sense of empowerment for every parent and every student and every taxpayer, that they can take control of the future of education,” — Rep. Michael Baumgartner
- “There’s an opportunity to see how that plays out a little bit more and make a decision that’s really informed by what actually is happening with this program, rather than speculation,” — Jeff Snell, executive director at the Washington Association of School Administrators
- “Our stance is we’d much rather see an investment in the basic education of each student across the state, as opposed to investing in some supplemental type of programs,” — Jeff Snell, executive director at the Washington Association of School Administrators
