US Education Secretary to Spotlight Tuition Relief at Miami Yeshiva

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon will visit Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) in Miami on Tuesday, 2 Cheshvan, to highlight a major new federal initiative that could transform how families across the country afford yeshiva tuition.

The visit comes as the federal government prepares to launch the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a groundbreaking scholarship program that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tuition assistance for families sending their children to yeshivos and other private schools.

Under the new law, taxpayers can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for contributions to approved nonprofit Scholarship Granting Organizations, with married couples filing jointly eligible for up to $3,400 under proposed regulations. These organizations will then distribute scholarships to eligible K–12 students for private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses.

For frum families struggling with rising tuition costs, particularly those with multiple children in yeshiva, the program could provide substantial financial relief. Unlike conventional government funding programs, the initiative encourages private donations by allowing contributors to offset their federal income tax liability, creating an entirely new source of scholarship funding.

The initiative was signed into law last summer as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax legislation. The final version established the credit permanently and removed an earlier nationwide cap on contributions, opening the possibility of significant scholarship funding as more donors and states participate.

Florida has already opted into the program, which begins January 1, 2027. Step Up For Students, the nonprofit organization that administers scholarships for hundreds of thousands of Florida students, is preparing a new fund called Step Up, Step Further. The additional scholarships will be available alongside existing Florida scholarship programs, potentially providing further assistance to families attending schools such as LEC.

Agudath Israel and other organizations spent years working to advance the legislation and have since pushed for states to participate. New York Governor Kathy Hochul formally opted into the program last week, paving the way for yeshiva families across the state to benefit from the new scholarships.

Tuesday’s visit will mark McMahon’s return to LEC, which was the first Jewish school she visited after assuming office in Adar 5785, just two weeks into her tenure. During that visit, she addressed hundreds of students and staff, toured classrooms, and spoke about the importance of school choice and giving parents the freedom to choose their children’s education. LEC Head of School Rabbi Benzion Korf presented her with a Chumash.

McMahon is expected to return to the school tomorrow, with a large turnout of parents and community members anticipated to show their support for Jewish education and the new federal scholarship initiative.