Hochul Says New York Will Join Federal School Choice Program. Here Is What That Means for Tri-Lakes Families.
Governor Hochul announced Thursday that New York will opt into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, a $5 billion school choice program beginning in 2027. Here is what it means locally.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that New York will opt into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, making the state one of approximately 30 to join the program created under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The announcement was delivered during a closed-door meeting with representatives of Agudath Israel of America in Manhattan. The program is expected to generate $5 billion annually in K-12 scholarships nationwide beginning in 2027. Hochul will be the second Democratic governor to opt in.
How It Works
The program offers a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for individuals who donate to scholarship-granting organizations. Those organizations then distribute scholarships to elementary and secondary students from families with incomes below 300% of the median income in their area. Scholarships can cover private school tuition and other qualified educational expenses.
The program does not redirect state funding from public schools. It creates a federal tax incentive for private donors to fund scholarships independently.
What It Means for Tri-Lakes Families
Beginning in 2027, scholarships funded through New York-based organizations may become available for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, tutoring, and other educational costs — depending on how New York structures its participation rules.
How Hochul writes those rules will matter significantly. A Democrat governor could limit eligible expenses to tutoring and supplemental services, or allow broader use including private school tuition. That determination has not yet been made public.
The Political Context
The announcement puts Hochul at odds with teachers unions, which have historically opposed public support for private and religious schools. New York’s powerful union lobby opposed even charter school expansion when Hochul tried in 2023.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor, had already publicly backed the program and criticized Hochul for hesitating. Her announcement Thursday removes that line of attack heading into a gubernatorial election year.
The Timing
The program begins in 2027 and does not affect the May 19 school budget votes in Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, or Lake Placid. Those votes are for local district operating budgets and are entirely separate from this federal initiative.
Tri-Lakes Town Square will continue to follow developments on how New York structures its participation in this program.