For over two decades, Tracie Canestrari stood in front of public school classrooms as a teacher and union member. Now, she's asking her former colleagues to take a fresh look at a federal initiative that many education groups have dismissed outright.
Canestrari, who now works with the yes. every kid. foundation, argues that the Education Freedom Tax Credit deserves more than a cursory glance. She insists the program is not a voucher scheme designed to drain resources from public education, but rather a tool that could put more support behind students and teachers alike.
The program, set to begin January 1, allows taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for individuals or $3,400 for married couples who donate to approved nonprofit scholarship organizations. Those groups, in turn, provide funding for students to cover tutoring, special needs services, and other educational expenses. Estimates suggest that as many as 90 percent of students nationwide could qualify, including those already enrolled in public schools.
Canestrari, who spent more than 20 years in the classroom, points to a common scenario: a student who is bright but struggles in a particular subject, needing one-on-one attention that a teacher with 25 other students simply cannot provide. In the past, families with means could hire a tutor; those without had to hope school resources would suffice. This gap, she says, has long frustrated educators.
“Teachers feel that gap acutely,” Canestrari writes. “We're asked to differentiate instruction, manage classrooms, meet special education requirements, support students emotionally and personalize it all for every learner.” Recent polling underscores the strain, with only one in three educators feeling they matter significantly at their school, and those who feel undervalued reporting higher rates of burnout and intentions to leave the profession.
The tax credit, Canestrari argues, offers a way to ease that burden by giving parents the financial means to secure the additional help their children need, freeing teachers to focus on teaching. She stresses that supporting public schools and acknowledging that some students need extra assistance are not mutually exclusive.
However, the program's rollout depends on state participation. Governors are now deciding whether their states will join the federal initiative. Taxpayers anywhere can claim the credit by donating to scholarship organizations in participating states, but students in non-participating states would miss out on the opportunities.
Canestrari urges educators and parents to look beyond the talking points. The National Education Association has labeled the credit a “private school voucher” that diverts money from public education, but Canestrari counters that the program is designed around student needs. She points to Treasury and IRS descriptions of the program as a tax credit for contributions to organizations that fund K-12 scholarships.
“Read both,” she advises. “Look at the statute and the regulations. Find out whether your state is participating and what that means for kids in your community. Then reach your own conclusion.”
As the debate over education funding continues, Canestrari's voice adds a nuanced perspective from someone who has walked both sides of the aisle. Her message is clear: the Education Freedom Tax Credit could be another tool in the toolbox, and teachers and families deserve the chance to see if it helps students thrive.
