Teachers union urges Hochul to reject Trump's 'school choice' plan

(The Center Square) — Teachers' unions want New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to walk back plans to join the Trump administration's “school choice” program, claiming that it would divert students and money from public schools.

In remarks on Wednesday, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called on Hochul to reverse her plans to opt into a federal tax-credit scholarship program passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last year. She and other critics claim it will allow public funding to be diverted to private schools that can refuse to admit higher-need children.

“Vouchers are about allowing private schools to pick and choose who they admit, leaving the most vulnerable children behind," she told reporters in comments directed to Hochul. "Opt out right now."

A Hochul spokesperson defended the state's decision to join the school choice program, dismissing claims that it would siphon away money from public schools. 

"These credits have the potential to expand academic opportunity for public and private school students across our state without diverting resources from public schools or state and local budgets," the Hochul administration said in a statement. "All stakeholders should work together to ensure this program can be implemented to maximize benefits for all New York schools, including our public schools."

Hochul had previously said she was supportive of the school choice, but was waiting for more details from the federal government to ensure there wasn't a "poison pill" in the initiative. 

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The tax credit was approved by Congress last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump. It allows taxpayers to claim up to $1,700 in tax credits on their federal tax returns for donations to scholarship-granting nonprofit "school choice" organizations. The scholarships can also support students in tutoring and after-school programs.

Under the law, families with household income of up to 300% of the local area median income are eligible to participate in the program. 

To date, at least 31 states, covering 31 million students — including 2.7 million in the Empire State — have opted to take part in the school choice initiative, according to school choice advocacy groups.

In New York, proponents of the school choice expansion are calling on Hochul to stick to her decision to opt into the program, echoing her administration's claim that it won't hurt public schools.

In a letter to Hochul last week, a coalition of groups, including the Robin Hood Foundation, United Way of NYC, and the New York Immigration Coalition, acknowledged union leaders' concerns but said New York "can shape its participation in ways that meaningfully benefit public school students." 

"Opting in does not redirect a single dollar from public school budgets; it opens the door to new philanthropic and taxpayer resources that New York families can choose to direct toward their children's education," the groups wrote.