U.S. calls for $5B in tax credits to fund more school options

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration renewed its push for school choice on Thursday with a proposal to provide $5 billion a year in federal tax credits for donations made to groups offering scholarships for private schools, apprenticeships and other educational programs.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos unveiled the plan as a “bold proposal” to give students more choices without diverting money from public schools.

Legislation for the tax credits is being introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala.

DeVos said she expects to face opposition, and Democrats quickly let her know she’ll get it. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate education committee, said the proposal is “dead on arrival.”

Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, chairman of the House education committee, said Democrats “will not waste time on proposals that undermine public education.”

The plan, called the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act, would allow states to set their own rules around the credits, including which students are eligible for scholarships and where they could be used. Possible programs include apprenticeships, private schools, home schooling, special education, tutoring or public virtual schools.

The proposal would offer a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for individuals and businesses that donate to scholarship groups approved by the state,.

States could decide not to participate, but DeVos said that would lead to a backlash from students and their families.

SAM PANTHAKY/GETTY-AFP Indian students in Ahmedabad on Thursday pray for the return of an air force pilot captured in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged to free the pilot to help defuse an escalating confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.