A growing national movement for school choice is now gaining momentum in Washington. The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), championed by President Trump, is set to become a key part of the GOP’s 2025 tax reform agenda.
The bill fulfills Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to empower parents with greater control over their children’s education. As Congress prepares to overhaul the tax code, advocates say this could be the most significant education reform in recent history.
“Parents should decide how their children are educated—not government bureaucrats,” Trump said in his January 29, 2025 Executive Order calling for more educational flexibility.
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The ECCA proposes $10 billion annually in federal tax credits for individuals and businesses donating to scholarship nonprofits. Scholarships would cover private school tuition, tutoring, special needs services, educational software, and curriculum materials—offering families, especially those with modest incomes, more tailored educational options, according to the Milwaukee Mainstay.
This federal program builds on successful state tax credit models in nearly 20 states, where school choice has grown rapidly. States like Florida, Arizona, and Arkansas have led the way, and polls show broad, bipartisan support for expanding parental choice in education.
Eligibility would extend to families earning up to 300% of their local median income—helping working and middle-class families without expanding government size or cutting public school funding.
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Over 150 organizations, including the Republican Jewish Coalition and Agudath Israel of America, back the bill. In March, more than 200 Jewish leaders lobbied Congress, highlighting the high cost of faith-based education for large families.
Supporters say the ECCA isn’t just about school choice—it’s about restoring parental rights and expanding educational opportunity. With tax negotiations underway, the push is on for swift congressional action.