Massachusetts has until the end of the year to opt into the federal government’s school voucher program, one of the main stated focuses of the Trump administration’s policy on education.
Last July, as part of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the federal government created a school voucher policy that will grant tax credits for donations to nonprofit school voucher programs. Each state has the ability to opt in or out to the program, with a deadline set for Jan. 1, 2027.
What is a school voucher?
A school voucher can provide free or reduced costs for students attending a private institution. Through the act enacted by the Trump administration, if a state chooses to opt into the program, it will allow private donors to receive a tax credit of up to $1,700 from the federal government on their next tax bill if they donate to an official nonprofit organization that provides vouchers for students. The nonprofits can either be directly affiliated with a particular institution or a third-party group.
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Critics of the program have said that by providing tax credits to those who donate to private institutions, money will be diverted away from public schools. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, an independent policy firm, issued a report last week that stated the voucher program would move Massachusetts away from supporting public education in favor of wealthier, private schools.
“Massachusetts became a national leader in education by choosing to strengthen public schools, making equitable investments to close opportunity gaps, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed,” the report states. “The federal administration’s voucher program asks Massachusetts to embrace a fundamentally different vision – one where educational opportunity depends on private fundraising rather than direct public investment and democratic accountability.”
A successful implementation of the voucher program would also lead to more students attending private schools over public schools, which would exacerbate issues of declining enrollment, already a major topic in Massachusetts and particularly in Worcester County.
Since the state funding formula for local districts is heavily tied to student enrollment figures, if more students leave to attend private schools through the voucher program, that will lead to a decrease in funding for local districts.
