A coalition of more than 60 New York organizations is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to keep the state out of a new federal private school voucher program set to take effect in 2027.
The coalition, which includes labor unions, civil rights groups, education associations, parent organizations and civic groups, said New York should reject participation in the program and keep public dollars focused on public schools.
The federal program is part of what supporters have called the "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed into law by President Donald Trump. According to New York State United Teachers, the program takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, but only in states where the governor affirmatively opts in.
The coalition is calling on Hochul to decline participation, as several Democratic governors have already done.
NYSUT said thousands of New Yorkers have signed a petition asking Hochul to keep public dollars in public schools, which the union said serve 90 percent of the state's children. The release also cited polling from this week showing 57 percent of voters oppose New York opting in, including 38 percent who strongly oppose it.
In May, 15 members of New York's congressional delegation sent a letter to Hochul calling on her to protect the state's support for public education, according to the release.
Coalition members argue that voucher programs in other states have diverted resources from public schools while providing subsidies to families already paying for private education.
NYSUT cited Arizona's universal voucher program as an example, saying the program was projected to cost $65 million annually but grew to $864 million and contributed to a $1.4 billion state budget shortfall. The release said most families using Arizona's program were already sending their children to private schools.
"New York has the benefit of learning from the experience of other states," NYSUT President Melinda Person said. "Across the country, voucher programs have diverted billions of dollars from public schools, increased segregation, fueled waste and abuse, and overwhelmingly subsidized families already enrolled in private schools."
Person said organizations representing millions of New Yorkers are calling on Hochul to opt out and focus on strengthening public education.
The coalition also said the federal program, as described so far, would not require participating private schools to meet the same accountability standards as public schools and would not allow states to add their own guidelines.
The release said private schools accepting voucher dollars may legally turn away students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students and children from families who do not share the school's religious beliefs.
Charles Dedrick, executive director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said the federal law does not ensure participation by children from disadvantaged backgrounds or accountability among schools receiving donations incentivized by tax credits.
New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert Schneider said public dollars should support public education, which is guaranteed for all students.
NYS PTA President Patty Frazier said New York public schools support 2.6 million children across income levels, abilities and ZIP codes. She said the Educational Choice for Children Act would siphon resources away from schools and the state education funding process.
The coalition also includes the NAACP New York State Conference, the New York State AFL-CIO and CSEA NY, whose leaders said the program would redirect public resources away from neighborhood schools.
NYSUT said a full list of coalition members is available through Public Schools Unite Us. New Yorkers who want to sign the petition can do so through the same initiative.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.