Hochul’s Tax Credit and the Fight for Catholic School Choice
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has opted into the Education Freedom Tax Credit, allowing taxpayers to redirect federal taxes to scholarship organizations for private school tuition. This initiative has been praised by the New York State Catholic Conference, which highlights its potential to make religious-based education more affordable. Despite the benefits, critics argue that the credit is insufficient compared to the high costs of Catholic school tuition and the disparities in funding between public and private education.
- ▪The Education Freedom Tax Credit allows taxpayers to redirect up to $1,700 of their federal taxes to scholarship organizations.
- ▪Catholic school enrollment in New York has declined significantly over the past 25 years, yet these schools consistently outperform public schools in academic metrics.
- ▪The New York State United Teachers union has criticized the tax credit, arguing against support for private institutions.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Hochul’s Tax Credit and the Fight for Catholic School Choice Brian A. Graebe May 19, 2026 Share Article Give credit where it’s due. That’s the message New York governor Kathy Hochul seems to have embraced by opting in to the Education Freedom Tax Credit. The initiative, part of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allows individual taxpayers to redirect up to $1,700 of their federal taxes to scholarship-granting organizations that offset the costs of private school tuition and related expenses. The New York State Catholic Conference, the bishops’ lobbying arm in Albany, praised the governor’s decision and cited the program’s benefits in making religious-based schools more affordable and in promoting school choice for the state’s parents.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at First Things.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from First Things
