Friend –

Governor Hochul has said she intends to sign New York up for a national school voucher program that could drain funds from public schools and undermine public education.

This program was created in Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill." Only one other blue state has opted in, but Hochul has said she's seriously considering it.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Governor Hochul to say "no" to private school tax credits that hurt public schools.

Trump's "Education Freedom Tax Credit" was crafted by right-wing actors whose ultimate goal is to eliminate public education in favor of religious schools. The program allows a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for individuals who donate to private organizations that pay private school tuition and expenses.

In other states, similar school funding schemes benefit mostly wealthy families who already send their kids to private schools. Costs to taxpayers have skyrocketed as those schools raise their tuition rates. And the programs are increasingly unpopular: Republicans and Democrats in Georgia even worked together to defeat that state's voucher proposal.

Last year, Governor Hochul dramatically reduced requirements for New York religious schools, allowing them to teach virtually no secular lessons. Now she wants to pay them to do it. With our democracy under existential threat, we should be directing public funds to public schools that teach science, history, and how to exist in a diverse society.

Tell Governor Hochul not to opt-in to Trump's national voucher program.

Thank you for fighting for public education.

Johanna Miller
Pronouns: she/her
Education Policy Center Director, NYCLU