Is Your State Likely to Opt-In to Trump's "Big, Ugly Vouchers?"
A private school coupon group takes a look
School vouchers - aka as taxpayer-funded private school discount coupons - were included in Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
The bill created a tax incentive program that allows for the funding of a federal school voucher scheme. The funds would be available to families in states that opt-in. So, even if your state doesn’t have a private school coupon plan, you may be able to get a federally-funded coupon.
The pro-coupon advocacy group EdChoice took a look at policy indicators and made some predictions about the states least likely to opt-in to the scheme:
1. California
2. Colorado
3. Hawaii
4. Michigan
5. Nebraska
6. New Mexico
7. Oregon
They then added a few other states that seem unlikely: Illinois and Vermont.
I’d add to that list Kentucky - where Gov. Andy Beshear is a staunch defender of public education. Voters in the Bluegrass State also rejected vouchers by a 2-1 margin in a 2024 ballot initiative.
In other words, it seems that 40 states may opt-in to Trump’s private school coupon scheme.
The total cost to U.S. taxpayers is expected to be at least $20 billion.
Thanks for this useful resource. Anyone have an idea when IRS or Treasury will release proposed regs? Those will obviously have a big impact on which Democratic states will choose to opt in.