The ‘big, beautiful’ fight over school choice ends with escape clause for blue states

The Hill ^ | Jul 10, 2025 | Lexi Lonas Cochran

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Republicans quietly passed a first-of-its-kind national school choice program in President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” but celebration among advocates was tempered after the Senate added a provision giving blue states a way out.

The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) was in turbulent waters throughout the process, at one taken out of the bill due to the Senate parliamentarian and leaving backers on the edge of their seats.

Its final form lifts the cap on how much the federal government can spend on the issue, but its opt-in feature means school choice programs might not make new advances in the Democratic-led states supporters have long targeted.

“School choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Every child, regardless of race or wealth or ethnicity, deserves access to an excellent education. This tax credit provision will unleash billions of dollars every single year for scholarships for kids to attend the K-12 school of their choice,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a speech before the Senate voted to pass the legislation, which President Trump signed Friday.

The basic premise of the ECCA is a tax credit that will go to individuals or corporations who donate to nonprofits that offer educational scholarships to students looking for options outside of traditional public schools......

Opponents will look to fight against states signing up for the program and emphasize concerns that this legislation will hurt public schools.

“The significant disparities in private school access [in] states. … What does this mean for rural communities? What does it mean for kids with disabilities?” asked Blair Wriston, senior manager of government affairs at EdTrust.

“We’re really disappointed that this provision was included, and we don’t think it’s going to improve outcomes for the 90 percent of kids in public schools. That should be our focus,”

---

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: education; publicschools; schoolchoice; schoolvouchers

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Of course it's going "hurt" public schools by giving parents the ability to get out from the liberal indoctrination of their children in the public schools.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

““One thing we should certainly not be doing is creating a two-tier education system in America — private schools for the wealthy and well-connected, and severely underfunded public schools for low-income, disabled and working class kids,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said at a press conference against the reconciliation bill back in June, K-12 Dive reported. “That is not what this country is supposed to be about.” Bernie Sanders

What a dumbass. This two-tier system is what we have NOW. That’s what this bill is intended to FIX- to help the low income, disabled and working class kids to GET INTO better schools. But then, that would get them out of the communist brainwashing, UNDERPERFORMING schools you are trying to keep them in.

[BenLurkin]

Close the public schools. They do far more harm than good.

[ETCM]

Of course it's going "hurt" public schools by giving parents the ability to get out from the liberal indoctrination of their children in the public schools.

A thriving private primary education industry drawing millions of students from public schools could be the best thing that ever happened to both students and eventually those public schools. Capitalism can benefit pretty much any industry. For now, public education has a monopoly on all but the wealthy. Forcing them to compete will make them better or they will die. Either option is good for the students.

[Dr. Sivana]

I would rather keep schools at the local level, no greater than state level.

[ProgressingAmerica]

They promised to abolish the Department of Education altogether.

Instead, we’re just getting more entrenchment of the deep state.

[1Old Pro]

Of course it's going "hurt" public schools by giving parents the ability to get out from the liberal indoctrination of their children in the public schools.

Competition is bad for public schools. when you offer a poor product you prefer a monopoly.

[11th_VA]

Can I get a tax deduction if I donate OUTSIDE of the blue state I live in ?

[Lurker]

Public schools are child abuse.

L

[daler]

“They promised to abolish the Department of Education altogether.

Instead, we’re just getting more entrenchment of the deep state.”

It does seem all too often that after celebrating a “win” we find out later it was all just smoke and mirrors.