{"id":355643,"date":"2026-09-24T12:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/355643\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T12:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:44:15","slug":"teachers-unions-press-hochul-on-school-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/355643\/","title":{"rendered":"Teachers’ unions press Hochul on school choice"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A coalition of union officials and civil rights leaders urged New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday to reverse her plans to opt into a federal tax-credit scholarship program passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

During a gathering at the Lower Manhattan headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers, top officials argued that the voucher-like program represents a threat to public education. They said it would allow public funding to flow to private schools that may refuse to admit higher-need children. They were flanked by several lawmakers and representatives from advocacy groups, including the NAACP.<\/p>\n

\u201cVouchers are about allowing private schools to pick and choose who they admit, leaving the most vulnerable children behind,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. She offered a blunt message to the governor: \u201cOpt out right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The press conference is one of the most visible efforts so far to persuade Hochul, who is facing re-election in November, to change her position about the federal program. Many of the groups support Hochul\u2019s re-election bid and are hopeful she will be receptive to their arguments, even as she indicated in May that she plans to opt the state in.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Hochul\u2019s office reiterated its support for the program and emphasized that public school students can benefit from it. \u201cGovernor Hochul\u2019s priority is making sure every student receives an education that best meets their needs, which is why she wants the federal scholarship tax credit to benefit all New York students,\u201d Hochul spokesperson Jonah Allon said. He noted the governor has increased funding for public schools and that the tax-credit program would not divert funding from local and state budgets.<\/p>\n

The tax-credit program, approved last year through the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will take effect in January 2027. It allows taxpayers who donate up to $1,700 to an eligible scholarship-granting organization to receive an equivalent reduction in their federal taxes. Those organizations can give students money for private school tuition, tutoring, and other education-related costs.<\/p>\n

Governors must opt their states in for students to benefit from the program. Hochul\u2019s office has previously said she\u2019s waiting for regulations from the Treasury Department, expected later this month, to see if there are any \u201cpoison pills\u201d that would change her decision to participate.<\/p>\n

Union officials said they still believe there\u2019s time to get their message across to the governor. \u201cWe\u2019re just hoping that she continues to have an open mind and hears us,\u201d United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew told reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

To date, 30 states have formally opted in, according to a list maintained by the Internal Revenue Service. Most are Republican-led, and many already have state voucher or education savings account programs.<\/p>\n

So far, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is the only Democrat to officially opt into the program and enthusiastically embrace it. In Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina, Republican-controlled legislatures overrode Democratic governors\u2019 vetoes to opt their states into the program. Some Democratic governors, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, have firmly rejected the program. Most are taking a wait-and-see approach, prompting furious lobbying from all sides.<\/p>\n

The federal program would represent a dramatic expansion of private school choice in blue states that have resisted vouchers, but some public education advocates have argued that it would be a mistake to pass up the opportunity to raise money for tutoring or after-school programs \u2014 even if they think the credit is bad policy.<\/p>\n

Teachers unions have generally taken the opposite tack, arguing the program will undermine public schools by luring away students and directing more taxpayer dollars to private schools.<\/p>\n

Still, enrollment and funding are not necessarily directly linked: State funding for New York school districts has increased in recent years, even as there are fewer students in public schools. Funding for the federal tax credit comes from federal, not state, coffers. Advocates have pitched the effort as essentially free federal money.<\/p>\n

Union leaders raised a host of other concerns. They argued that scholarship-granting organizations could spend money in ways that don\u2019t benefit students and that public funding could flow to schools that may not welcome students with disabilities or other needs. They also noted that relatively affluent families could benefit from scholarships to private schools because families earning up to 300% of their area\u2019s median income are eligible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fundamental difference between public and private schools is this: We educate everyone,\u201d said Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers.<\/p>\n

Others are pressuring Hochul to move forward with her plans to opt in. A coalition of 37 anti-poverty groups, community-based organizations, and charter school leaders argued in a Sept. 10 letter to Hochul that the program could benefit public school students.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program offers a source of funding, at no cost to the state education budget, that can expand access to tutoring, afterschool programming, special education services, and other supports that are too often out of reach for lower-income families,\u201d the letter states. \u201cWe believe New York can shape its participation in ways that meaningfully benefit public school students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim Blew, who advises a coalition of groups backing the tax credit, praised Hochul\u2019s plan to participate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very impressed that she has stood up to the unfounded arguments from the unions,\u201d said Blew, who worked in the Education Department during Trump\u2019s first term. \u201cThis takes no money from the state budget for public education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ideas editor Matt Barnum and national editor Erica Meltzer contributed.<\/p>\n

Alex Zimmerman is a senior reporter for Chalkbeat New York, covering NYC public schools. Contact Alex at azimmerman@chalkbeat.org.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-
\nThis story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at\/newsletters<\/a><\/p>\n

Teachers unions press New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject federal school choice program<\/p>\n

Alex Zimmerman, Chalkbeat<\/p>\n

Sep 16, 2026 at 5:00pm EDT<\/p>\n

Sign up for Chalkbeat New York\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to get essential news about NYC\u2019s public schools delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n

A coalition of union officials and civil rights leaders urged New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday to reverse her plans to opt into a federal tax-credit scholarship program passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

During a gathering at the Lower Manhattan headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers, top officials argued that the voucher-like program represents a threat to public education<\/a>. They said it would allow public funding to flow to private schools<\/a> that may refuse to admit higher-need children. They were flanked by several lawmakers and representatives from advocacy groups, including the NAACP.<\/p>\n

\u201cVouchers are about allowing private schools to pick and choose who they admit, leaving the most vulnerable children behind,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. She offered a blunt message to the governor: \u201cOpt out right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The press conference is one of the most visible efforts so far to persuade Hochul, who is facing reelection in November, to change her position on the federal program. Many of the groups support Hochul\u2019s reelection bid and are hopeful she will be receptive to their arguments, even as she indicated in May that she plans to opt the state in<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Hochul\u2019s office reiterated its support for the program and emphasized that public school students can benefit from it.<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernor Hochul\u2019s priority is making sure every student receives an education that best meets their needs, which is why she wants the federal scholarship tax credit to benefit all New York students,\u201d Hochul spokesperson Jonah Allon said. He noted the governor has increased funding for public schools and that the tax credit program would not divert funding from local and state budgets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The tax credit program, approved last year through the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act<\/a>, will take effect in January 2027. It allows taxpayers who donate up to $1,700 to an eligible scholarship-granting organization to receive an equivalent reduction in their federal taxes. Those organizations can give students money for private school tuition, tutoring, and other education-related costs.<\/p>\n

Governors must opt their states in for students to benefit from the program. Hochul\u2019s office has previously said she\u2019s waiting for regulations from the Treasury Department, expected later this month, to see if there are any \u201cpoison pills\u201d that would change her decision to participate.<\/p>\n

Union officials said they still believe there\u2019s time to get their message across to the governor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just hoping that she continues to have an open mind and hears us,\u201d United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew told reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Thirty states have formally opted in, according to a list maintained by the Internal Revenue Service<\/a>. Most are Republican-led, and many already have state voucher or education savings account programs.<\/p>\n

So far, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is the only Democrat to officially opt into the program and enthusiastically embrace it<\/a>. In Kentucky<\/a>, Kansas<\/a>, and North Carolina<\/a>, Republican-controlled legislatures overrode Democratic governors\u2019 vetoes to opt their states into the program. Some Democratic governors, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers<\/a>, have firmly rejected the program. Most are taking a wait-and-see approach, prompting furious lobbying<\/a> from all sides<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The federal program would represent a dramatic expansion of private school choice in blue states that have resisted vouchers<\/a>. But some public education advocates have argued that it would be a mistake to pass up the opportunity to raise money for tutoring or after-school programs \u2014 even if they think the credit is bad policy.<\/p>\n

Teachers unions have generally taken the opposite tack, arguing the program will undermine public schools by luring away students and directing more taxpayer dollars to private schools.<\/p>\n

Still, enrollment and funding are not necessarily directly linked: State funding for New York school districts has increased in recent years<\/a> even as there are fewer students in public schools. Funding for the federal tax credit comes from federal, not state, coffers. Advocates have pitched the effort as essentially free federal money<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Union leaders raised a host of other concerns. They argued that scholarship-granting organizations could spend money in ways that don\u2019t benefit students and that public funding could flow to schools that may not welcome students with disabilities or other needs. They also noted that relatively affluent families could benefit from scholarships to private schools because families earning up to 300% of their area\u2019s median income are eligible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fundamental difference between public and private schools is this: we educate everyone,\u201d said Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers.<\/p>\n

Others are pressuring Hochul to move forward with her plans to opt in. A coalition of 37 anti-poverty groups, community-based organizations, and charter school leaders argued in a Sept. 10 letter to Hochul<\/a> that the program could benefit public school students.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program offers a source of funding, at no cost to the state education budget, that can expand access to tutoring, afterschool programming, special education services, and other supports that are too often out of reach for lower-income families,\u201d the letter states. \u201cWe believe New York can shape its participation in ways that meaningfully benefit public school students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim Blew, who advises a coalition of groups backing the tax credit, praised Hochul\u2019s plan to participate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very impressed that she has stood up to the unfounded arguments from the unions,\u201d said Blew, who worked in the Education Department during Trump\u2019s first term. \u201cThis takes no money from the state budget for public education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ideas editor Matt Barnum and national editor Erica Meltzer contributed.<\/p>\n

Alex Zimmerman is a senior reporter for Chalkbeat New York, covering NYC public schools. Contact Alex at [azimmerman@chalkbeat.org](mailto:azimmerman@chalkbeat.org).<\/p>\n

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.<\/p>\n

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