School Choice Obstructed By Democrats in Blue States

School Choice is sweeping the country, except in some states run by Democrats who are beholden to the teacher’s unions and their political donations. They favor “choice” when it comes to abortion but deny it to poor children in underperforming public schools. For parents who might struggle with the cost of private schools, especially in states that won’t allow this option, a new federal law might help. It’s called the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit.

Starting next Jan. 1, 2027, taxpayers will be able to claim a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for donations to qualified programs that grant scholarships. It even allows religious schools to participate and will pay for tuition, tutoring, technology, transportation and services for children with special needs.

According to an article published by David Bass , “More than two dozen states have already opted in and additional states are under pressure to follow. If fully implemented across the country, the program would cover roughly 90 percent of K-12 students.” This is where philanthropy can do some of its best work. Bass believes the next 18 months are crucial to the program’s success because it will inevitably face political pressure from opponents.

The public school system may be the last and largest remaining monopoly in the country.

Courts have broken up other monopolies, but only parents have the power to break up the public-school monopoly by depriving them of the “raw material.” It’s called competition, which has worked well in just about every other field. It can also work in education and is starting to, in states with school choice options. Stories about the transformation of public-schools children who have managed to escape their underperforming schools for private ones are starting to get the public’s attention. The media mostly ignore them, but word is getting around, especially to poor and minority parents who want their children to have a bright future.

A significant side benefit would be children who grow up loving America, believing in capitalism and not joining the Democratic Socialists of America. Thanks to school choice and the FSTC law, we may finally see a system that puts children and the country first, not the teacher’s unions and the agenda of the secular progressives.

Hon. Vinicio E. Madrigal, MD

3213 Florida Ave, Suite A

Kenner, Louisiana 70065

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August 31, 2026. Copyright DelmarvaPTC.org 

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