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

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

07/10/25 6:00 AM ET


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 on 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 on Friday.

The basic premise of 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. The money from the program can go to certain qualified expenses such as tuition, fees, tutoring and supplies for students at public, private or religious schools. It can also cover transportation, room and board and computer equipment.

“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,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) 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.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5392855-big-beautiful-bill-trump-budget-gop-megabill-school-choice/

[Initech]

1. Yay, Fox News fucks with education again and wins.

[Cheezoholic]

2. "... corporations who donate to non-profits..." There's ALWAYS a rich fuck can profit hook in anything repukes pass

NEVER anything solely for the benefit of me and you. "Daddy's" gotta get his cut children. Fuck these fascists.

[SARose]

3. Oh really, Ted?

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 on Friday.

How’d cutting funding for the NWS and NOAA work out for ya? While you were partying in Greece 36 children drowned and 5 are still missing.