Educational Choice for Children Act is a win-win situation

Guaranteed Winning Option...Do It for the Kids! by Ramblin’ Rose

Win-Win...(at least it should be)...for students, parents, and taxpayers. A new permanent federal program will launch on January 1, 2027. The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) is funded entirely by private donations. IF the governor of the state opts-in, it allows taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit up to $1700 per taxpayer for donations to approved non-profit scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) in their state.

Gov. Walz stands vehemently opposed to this program, falsely calling it a "voucher" program. In his supplemental budget proposal, he threatens to end all nonpublic support and transportation aid if Minnesota opts to participate in the federal scholarship program.

If the governor does not agree to participate in the program, taxpayers may make the donation for the tax credit, funding scholarships for students in other participating states. Minnesota’s students would be ineligible.

The SGOs award scholarships to K-12 students in public AND private schools for tuition, tutoring, special-education services, etc. Households with incomes up to 300% of their county’s median income are eligible to apply.

Currently Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming are supporting taxpayers and students. Minnesota is NOT on the list!

Minnesotans are understandably concerned about the misuse of federal funds (aka: fraud). The program guidelines are being prepared by the US Department of the Treasury and not the US Department of Education nor the creation of another federal program (bureaucracy). The specifics of the requirements for the SGOs are still under development but will include an auditing and reporting process. 90% of the funds must be awarded as scholarships through the approved SGOs.

Annually, by January 1, the governors of participating states must provide a list of approved SGOs to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Lee McGrath, Executive Director of Opportunity for All Kids (OAK), summarizes the program concisely and accurately:

This tax credit can be a major boost to public and private education in Minnesota, permanently increasing the funds available to both and giving many more parents a choice and children a chance.
Mr. Walz, it’s "win-win” only IF you “opt-in” for Minnesota before January 1, 2027. It means tax credits for donors and scholarships for qualified students in public and nonpublic educational settings.

Catrin Wigfall, a Policy Fellow at Center of the American Experiment, lets the numbers tell Minnesota’s story—its potential with gubernatorial affirmation or its loss without the governor’s signature:

"...if just 10 percent of Minnesota single filers earning $75,000+ donate the maximum creditable amount ($1,700) from 2027-2029, over $463 million could flow out of Minnesota instead of supporting students here. If participation ticks up slightly over time, say 12 percent in 2028 and 14 percent in 2029, now we are looking at roughly $500 million over a three-year time period."
Jeanne Allen, founder of the Center for Education Reform, highlights the role of governors across the nation with these words:
"Governors are responsible for all children in their states — not just those aligned with a particular political coalition. Refusing to opt in for political reasons, while taxpayers in your own state can still send resources elsewhere, is not a strategy. It’s folly."
Mr. Walz, that is a challenge. Do what is right for Minnesota’s kids! Minnesotans, contact Gov. Walz to place "our kids" ahead of politics.

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