School Choice Headed to the House is a Tuition Game-Changer

Today, the Educational Choice for Children Act passed a key committee and is ready to be voted on by the House of Representatives, which will enable parents to get help from tax funds to cover their children’s private school tuition. This is a game-changer for parents struggling with tuition.

In a major win for frum families, The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024 passed through a key committee on Wednesday, and is moving on to the House of Representatives for a vote. Following a model already operating successfully in more than twenty states, H.R. 9462 will provide $5 billion in scholarships that will help cover private school tuition for families who are eligible. If the law passes, it will take effect on January 1, 2025- so parents can expect relief this year already.

The way the law works, is it allows a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for taxpayers who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations. These SGOs would then provide scholarships for private school tuition. Any family that is not making more than 300% of the area median gross income, is eligible for the grant, after they verify their income with the necessary tax returns and employee income verification letters. The government is allowing up to 5 Billion dollars a year to go to this cause.

Agudas Yisroel played a key role in the crafting and promotion of this legislation. Working with the sponsors and coalition partners over the last several years, Agudah staff participated in hundreds of meetings and most recently submitted a memo (here) of support and generated thousands of letters of support from constituents across the country. Following nearly two hours of discussion, the US House Ways and Means Committee voted in favor of the proposal, clearing the way for the bill to be brought to the floor of the House

“We thank the 23 members of the Ways and Means Committee who voted with families today and we encourage their colleagues on both sides of the aisle to follow their lead and support this important legislation on the floor of the House,” said Rabbi Avi Schnall, Agudas Yisroel’s Director of Federal Education Affairs.