The Bottom Line Keri D. Ingraham Speaks at CESA Symposium
On October 5, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham spoke at the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) Symposium in Arlington, Texas, about the historic Education Freedom Tax Credit, also known as the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship.
Ingraham addressed the audience of Christian school leaders about the unprecedented opportunity to expand access to Christian education for families nationwide through the first Federal Tax Credit Scholarship program in American history.
Signed into law by President Trump on Independence Day 2025, the Education Freedom Tax Credit takes effect January 1, 2027. The program allows taxpayers to contribute to approved nonprofit scholarship granting organizations and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 annually for individuals and $3,400 for married couples filing jointly.
The Education Freedom Tax Credit is a historic advancement for education freedom, providing more parents the financial ability to choose the educational environment that best meets their children’s needs.
Ingraham emphasized the program’s potential to transform educational opportunities for millions of children. By 2030, the U.S. Department of the Treasury estimates that 11 million taxpayers will contribute nearly $26 billion annually, potentially funding as many as 2.2 million scholarships each year.
Importantly, the program places no new federal mandates on participating schools, and scholarship funds do not pass through a federal agency. Instead, private contributions are directed to nonprofit scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships for qualifying K-12 educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, books, supplies, and special-needs services.
Ingraham also illustrated the significant impact the program could have in providing more families with access to a high-quality education that aligns with their values. For example, for every 1,000 taxpayers who contribute $1,700, that equates to $1.7 million of new private funding available to grant education scholarships to students.
Ingraham encouraged school leaders to begin preparing now to maximize this opportunity to reach more students and families at their schools.
With 31 states opted in and more on the way, the Education Freedom Tax Credit is a historic advancement for education freedom, providing more parents the financial ability to choose the educational environment that best meets their children’s needs.