Will Connecticut opt-in to the new IRS credit for funding private education?
- Guy
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
Beginning in 2027, taxpayers can receive a tax credit for donating up to $1,700 annually to organizations that award scholarships for K-12 students to attend private schools. It would cover expenses including tuition, books, equipment, tutoring and other services. The states must opt-in to participate in this school choice program and it is uncertain whether CT will do so.
Officials say that school choice is already a part of the education scene in CT. But what they mean is choice of public schools, such as magnet and charter schools, not private schools.
Against. The CT public school teacher's union says: “This scheme is nothing more than a backdoor voucher plan that diverts critical public dollars away from the schools that serve the vast majority of Connecticut’s students. These types of policies are designed to erode public education and widen educational inequities by promoting a privatization agenda that benefits a select few at the expense of many.”
In Favor. Supporters of the tax credit say, “Our public schools are the furthest thing from underfunded. We spend more per student per year than nearly any other country on Earth, and yet our results are poor. No underfunding is happening right now, that’s for sure. This does not take a single dollar away from public schools. This is funded by taxpayers. It does not divert a penny from your local public school.”
A recent study here from WalletHub found that Connecticut has the second-best public school system in the country, and counted higher spending as a favorable factor for that ranking. Connecticut spends about $25,032 per student in K-12 schools. This is the fourth-highest amount out of every state in the country. The vast majority of this money comes from state and local taxpayer dollars.
Between the Lines: In Greenwich, we spend about $28,000 per student in the K-12 public schools. Greenwich is home to nine private schools educating about 27% of town students. That's a lot of private school students. Seems like this tax credit would be a win for all but the powerful public school teacher's union.