Staff Reports
Governor Kathy Hochul’s move to let New York families use the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit — the so‑called Freedom Scholarships — has set off predictable fireworks. United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew called it “a failure of leadership.” That’s rich when the real question is who gets to decide a child’s school: the parents or the union bosses.
Hochul signals she will opt in, Mulgrew fumes
Hochul announced New York will participate in the federal program, saying the state will review federal rules and build guardrails to protect students and taxpayers. Mulgrew immediately blasted the decision, claiming it hands control to “the federal government” and will punish public schools. That argument sounds tough until you remember it’s coming from a union whose business model depends on keeping parents boxed in.
What the Freedom Scholarships actually do
How the program works — and who benefits
The federal tax‑credit scheme gives donors a dollar‑for‑dollar credit when they give to scholarship‑granting organizations (SGOs). Those SGOs then award scholarships that families can use for tuition, tutoring, transportation, and other K–12 education costs. The program can be used at private schools — but also to support public options if families choose. Governors must opt in and approve which SGOs operate in their state; Treasury/IRS guidance still leaves some rules to be finalized, so state guardrails matter.
Why the teachers’ unions are really upset
Let’s be blunt: this isn’t about “local control” or saving public education. It’s about who signs the checks and who keeps the monopoly on students. When parents can take a scholarship and pick a safer, better, or more fitting school, the unions lose leverage. Mulgrew’s rhetoric paints the federal government as a boogeyman, but the real threat to union power is choice — and that’s what many parents want. If tens of millions of students nationwide are eligible, the stakes for New York’s classrooms and budgets are significant, and unions are trying to scare voters into defending their turf.
Guardrails are sensible — but so is putting parents first
Governor Hochul is right to insist on guardrails and to read the Treasury rules carefully. States should ensure accountability for SGOs and protect public‑school funding where needed. But the reflexive union opposition that treats any form of school choice as a felony should not trump parents’ basic rights. If the Freedom Scholarships expand real options for struggling families, that’s a win for kids — not an assault on public education. Mulgrew can holler about “failure of leadership,” but parents will judge leadership by one simple test: does it help their children learn?
