Thank you! ECCA Passed, Now What? Read Our Update Below...

Petition Your Governor to Allow ECCA in Your State!

Donors can receive a 100% federal tax credit for up to $1,700 in donations to eligible scholarship granting organization (SGO) starting in 2027.

State governors can opt their states in to participate in this new program by December 31, 2026.

CT: Gov. Ned Lamont VT: Gov. Phil Scott RI: Gov. Daniel McKee

MA: Gov. Maura Healey ME: Gov. Janet Mills NH: Gov.Kelly Ayotte

Governor Polis will opt Colorado into the new 2027 tax credit for donations to scholarships: Watch interview on why here!

Public, charter and private school children benefit from the federal tax-credit scholarship program.

FAQs

1. Will these new "ECCA" K-12 educational scholarships take away money from public school students and public schools?

No.The program is entirely funded by private donations to scholarship granting organizations. It has no effect on the federal Department of Education funding. No federal, state, or local government-collected taxpayers’ funds are used. As a result, the scholarships are not vouchers.

2. Who can benefit from these scholarships?

Any public or nonpublic school student, whose family earns less than 300% of the gross median income in their area according to federal statistics, can apply for a scholarship.
Public school students can use these scholarships for educational expenses that include tutoring, technology, tuition at an out-of-district public school, and special needs services. Nonpublic school students can use these scholarships to offset nonpublic school tuition in addition to these services.

3. Who receives the tax-credit and where can the donations be made?

Beginning in 2027, the maximum federal tax-credit for a donation to a K-12 scholarship program is currently set at $1,700. Even if Connecticut does not allow its scholarship organizations to participate in the program, Connecticut residents can donate to out-of-state scholarship organizations to receive the tax-credit. It would make sense to encourage gifts to be made within the state of Connecticut to keep the funds in-state.

4. What is the maximum scholarship given to a student?

There is no limit in the federal law. It depends on how much money a scholarship organization raises and how many students apply.

5. Will these scholarships cause public schools to close?

Very unlikely. The costs of opening and building new nonpublic schools are not covered by this scholarship program. While the Archdiocese hopes to open a school for Hartford students who want to attend a Catholic school, it would likely not attract all the students from one public school.
Opponents to private school choice have long argued that cost-savings, i.e., the expected number of students leaving one public school class, would not be enough to reduce the costs of public education significantly. Depending on the size of a school system, the costs of students do not become measurable until a threshold of twenty students enrolled/unenrolled has been met.

6. How does a state participate in the program?

While the requirements of the program could change and regulations are forthcoming, the Governor or his designee who elects to receive federal funds on behalf of the state, must notify the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury before January 1, 2027 that Connecticut will participate. The Governor will certify that he/she has such power to opt the state into participation, and the governor will also approve a list of scholarship granting organizations that can participate in this program. The election to opt-in is an annual election. The IRS will track the tax-credits.

More information:

Bill text passed by Senate on 7/1/2025: Amendment 2848 to H.R. 1. Section 70411, page 374.

More Details:

"The funds could be used to pay for tuition, tutoring, special needs services, homeschooling curriculum materials, and education technology, among other eligible uses. Scholarships would be funded with private donations, not federal dollars, and donors would receive a federal tax credit. The ECCA would expand school choice and opportunity while respecting federalism, protecting religious liberty, and ensuring private school autonomy."- Invest in Education Coalition (Endorsed by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Catholic Education (USCCB) & the Connecticut Catholic Conference)