BOSTON, Mass. — Candidate for governor Mike Minogue today called on Maura Healey to opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, after the Treasury Department released final rules for the program last week.
In an October 2 editorial, The Boston Globe urged the governor to take part, stating unequivocally that Healey “should take the money.” The Globe also noted that opting in is the only way to keep hundreds of millions to billions of dollars earmarked for education in Massachusetts.
The Washington Post, in its October 1 report on the rules, noted that, because the program is funded entirely with federal money, states that decline to participate are passing up an opportunity to funnel additional dollars into their public schools. The Post also reported that Treasury officials estimate 95 percent of children fall within the program’s income limits, which cover families earning less than three times their area median income.
“The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit could give up to $5,000 to each eligible child,” said Mike Minogue. “Governor Healey is playing party politics by refusing to opt in, and children and Massachusetts families are the ones who pay the price. Education is one of the most powerful ways to break the cycle of poverty. As governor, I will opt in on day one.”
The tax credit program does not reduce or redirect public school funding at either the local or national level. Rather than functioning like traditional voucher programs available in some other states, this tax credit is designed to expand educational opportunities for public and non-public school students alike.
The program prioritizes low- and middle-income families and seeks to expand equitable access to educational opportunities, particularly for students attending lower-performing schools. Families could take advantage of opportunities such as tutoring and academic support, enrichment and after-school programs, career and technical education, services for students with special learning needs, and other educational programs that may otherwise be financially out of reach.
This approach may be particularly valuable in communities where public schools are facing difficult budget decisions and municipalities are considering tax overrides or other measures to address rising education costs. By bringing additional private resources into the educational ecosystem, the program could help supplement opportunities and services available to public school students without requiring those opportunities to be funded entirely through local school budgets. In that sense, the program will be structured to complement and support public education rather than compete with it.
Massachusetts can maintain its strong commitment to public education while also giving families greater access to educational opportunities that meet the individual needs and interests of their children. A recent poll reveals 60 percent of Massachusetts students from 3rd to 8th grade did not meet expectations. What’s more, 77 percent of public school teachers say public education is on the wrong track.
Big education unions have directed Maura Healey not to opt in. Her refusal to move is a classic example of putting party politics ahead of students and parents and impacts affordability in the state.
From the press office of Mike Minogue.