Federal Voucher Program
The federal budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4, 2025, enacted an unprecedented federal voucher program designed to divert federal tax dollars that should be used to fund public goods, such as public education, to instead pay for private education expenses.
This scheme provides a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 for taxpayer contributions to so-called Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that pass out vouchers. States must annually opt in to the program to participate.
The federal voucher program is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to undermine public education. Research and data show that private school voucher programs harm students, schools, and states by diverting public funds away from the public schools that welcome all students to private entities that don’t produce better educational outcomes, have little accountability to the public, and often blatantly discriminate against children and families.
PFPS supports local, state, and national efforts to ensure that public funds are used to strengthen public schools. Below are PFPS resources explaining how the federal voucher program works; how it will inflict harm on students, public schools, and states; and why state leaders should reject this scheme.
For assistance with advocacy to keep public funds in public schools, contact PFPS.
Advocacy Resources
How California Can Respond to the Threat of Private School Vouchers (May 2026)
This PFPS resource explains the dangers vouchers pose; highlights recent, concerning pro-voucher developments; and provides recommendations and resources on how to keep California voucher free.
Debunking the Trump Administration's Claims about the Federal Voucher Program (February 2026)
This PFPS resource debunks six falsehoods in the Trump administration’s so-called “fact” sheet about the voucher program contained in the federal budget reconciliation bill passed last year. The fact sheet misrepresents the truth about vouchers by making false claims and distorting its potential impacts.
States Should Reject Federal School Voucher Scheme (December 2025)
This PFPS resource outlines the dangers private school vouchers pose to public education, highlights recent pro-voucher developments at the federal and state levels, and provides recommendations and resources to help states protect and strengthen public schools.
Just Say No to Federal Private Education Vouchers - Here's How (September 2025)
This two-page Advocacy Tool and Frequently Asked Questions guide provide information about the federal private education voucher program contained in the budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July 2025, including the harms of vouchers and the many reasons states must opt out of this voucher scheme in order to protect public education.
Webinars & Podcasts
No Accountability, No Transparency: Scholarship Granting Organizations under the Federal Voucher Program (May 2026)
This webinar explored the role of Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) under the federal voucher program, focusing on concerns around transparency, accountability, and discrimination against students and families. Speakers also discussed why public schools will be harmed rather than benefit from the program and shared tools and strategies advocates can use to encourage governors not to opt in. The conversation underscored the importance of investing public funds in strengthening public schools.
Inside Trump's Stealth School Voucher Program: What's At Stake (March 2026)
PFPS Director Jessica Levin appeared on the Education on the Line podcast to discuss how the federal voucher program is structured and the many dangers it poses to students, public schools, and democracy.
All Risk No Reward for Public Ed: What's Ahead for the Federal Voucher Program (February 2026)
This webinar hosted by PFPS, the National Coalition for Public Education, and partner organizations features Representative Julie von Haefen, North Carolina House of Representatives (District 36); Damaris Allen, Executive Director, Families for Strong Public Schools; Sasha Pudelski, Director of Advocacy, AASA; and Jessica Levin, Education Law Center Litigation Director and Director of PFPS. Panelists provide the latest updates about the Trump-backed federal voucher law enacted in 2025, and share resources for advocacy encouraging states not to opt in to the harmful program. The webinar slide deck is available here.
Federal Vouchers, Funding Cuts, Firings: What You Need to Know About the Impact on Public Schools (October 2025)
This PFPS webinar features Kevin Welner, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the National Education Policy Center; Bethany Little, Managing Principal at EducationCounsel; and Tamerlin Godley, Esq., Co-Founder of PFPS. Panelists discuss the implications for American public schools of the Trump Administration's harmful executive orders, the gutting of the U.S. Department of Education, and the first ever federal school voucher program. They also provide resources and advice for advocates at the state and federal levels working to defend public education.
Legislative Tracking and Analysis
Voucher Bill Tracker:
We’ve updated our interactive bill tracker to include state legislation related to the federal voucher program, such as bills that would require a state to opt in or out of the program. We also track all bills in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress that create, expand, scale back, or otherwise modify private school voucher programs, with users able to search by bill number, state, or PFPS-assigned categories. View a short demonstration of the bill tracker here.
Regulations
The federal government is expected to issue proposed regulations to implement the federal voucher program in mid-2026. Check back here for updates and analysis. There will be an opportunity for public comment on the regulations before they are finalized.
In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Department of Education issued a Request for Comments to inform the forthcoming proposed regulations. PFPS submitted public comments in response.
Additional Partner Resources
EdTrust, The Federal Voucher Program is a Costly Illusion (April 2026)
Intercultural Development Research Association, The Federal Voucher Program – Doubling Down on Harming Students and Public Schools (March 2026)
National Education Association, In the Public Interest, The New Federal Voucher Program: Considerations for Policymakers (February 2026)
Colorado Sun, Opinion: Take Note, Gov. Polis: Coloradans Have Repeatedly Said No to School Vouchers (December 2025)
National Coalition for Public Education, Webpage on the Federal Voucher Program (September 2025)