Washington's schools chief opposes new federal school tax credit
Chris Reykdal, Washington's top education official, wants Gov. Bob Ferguson to turn down the federal scholarship tax credit, and Ferguson has not yet decided.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
Federal officials are promoting a new tax credit for education scholarships that states can choose to join, and the choice has sparked debate over school choice. Washington's Chris Reykdal, the superintendent of public instruction, says joining would be a mistake, while Gov. Ferguson is still weighing it. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Sen. Jon Husted have since promoted the credit at a roundtable.
Why it matters
The decision lands on a state school system already facing a budget crisis driven by rising costs and funding cuts.
Timeline
- Oct 15, 8:33 PM ET: Chris Reykdal urged Gov. Bob Ferguson to reject the federal tax credit program.
- Oct 16, 4:30 AM ET: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Miami to promote the federal tax credit for Florida schools.
- Oct 16, 10:10 AM ET: In New Hampshire, McMahon praised the state's education freedom account program and argued that more choice gives parents more opportunity.
- Oct 16, 8:50 PM ET: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Sen. Jon Husted promoted the new tax credit for education scholarships at a roundtable.
Coverage
- Treasury Secretary Bessent, Sen. Husted tout new tax credit as way to expand school choice (abc6onyourside.com)
- Trump launched a federal school choice program. How will it affect Wyoming? (Wyofile)
- WA education chief opposes tax credit program to aid K-12 funding (Seattle Times)
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is ‘very open’ to Trump’s education tax credit program (chalkbeat.org)
- New York opts in as states divide over school choice tax credit
- McMahon presses Washington's governor to join federal tax credit
- States opt into federal school choice programs
- States weigh federal K-12 scholarship tax credit as Washington governor faces pressure
- States weigh opting into federal school tax credit as Washington resists
- New York joins federal scholarship tax credit as states debate it
More from Education
- Breach exposes data of 5.7 million California students
- Nearly half of employers expect AI to boost degree value
- McMahon presses Washington's governor to join federal tax credit
- Paula Johnson urges universities to build principled citizens
- Supreme Court agrees to hear Maryland school admissions race case
- Trump administration's new loan policies draw warnings from educators