Trump's School Choice Program Could Push Public Schools to Charge New Fees

Starting Jan. 1, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will begin offering dollar-for-dollar tax credits for individuals who donate to state-certified organizations that provide K-12 scholarship funds, under a new federal school choice program. Scholarships can be used not only for tuition but also for a range of fees tied to educational programming and equipment, including tutoring, technology, and transportation. While private schools can more easily accept scholarship dollars, public districts in at least 30 states face legal and constitutional limits that may slow participation. A key uncertainty is that detailed guidance on “eligible expenses” was not yet ready, and experts say the delay could deepen differences between public and private schools.