AFT Massachusetts leading effort against dangerous voucher scheme
Background:
A signature component of the Trump Administration’s agenda to dismantle public education is slated to take effect in 2027.
Tucked away in the reconciliation act signed in July 2025 was a hallmark of The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a federal school voucher program that threatens to gravely undermine public education in the Commonwealth and across the United States.
Publicly-Subsidized Private Education:
The most recent iteration of this plan provides individuals who donate to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, up to $1,700. SGOs distribute the money as vouchers to students to pay for school tuition and fees. By comparison, taxpayers can only claim 35 per dollar donated to every other charitable cause, including food banks, disaster relief, and more. No other donation is eligible for a 100 percent tax credit. Governors, including Governor Healey, have until the end of the year to decide whether their state will opt-in.
Under this framework, states would be prohibited from issuing their own guardrails or holding SGOs to specific accountability or evaluation measures. The program is designed to help the wealthiest families the most. Unlike federal childcare assistance eligibility requirements, which are only available to those making 85% or less than the state median income, families earning up to 300% of their county’s median income are eligible for these vouchers.
Protecting Massachusetts Schools & Students:
The final decision on whether to opt-in or opt-out of this dangerous plan lies with one person—the Governor.
That’s why the AFT Massachusetts has taken the lead on appealing directly to the Governor—urging her to publicly and unequivocally opt-out of this scheme. The letter, signed by over 20 of our AFT MA local presidents, outlined the dangers this scheme poses to our schools, students, and collective future as a Commonwealth.
Our advocacy hasn’t stopped there. We’ve launched a campaign to keep the pressure up: sharing this information with her administration and education policy leaders, urging every member of the Massachusetts Legislature and Federal Delegation to personally contact Governor Healey and ask her to opt-out, and bringing together allies to expand our reach to critical community organizations and leaders.
Join AFT Massachusetts in Calling on Governor Healey to opt-out of this dangerous scheme.
- Write a letter to Governor Healey yourself!!
- Share President Tang’s op-ed on the issue that was published by CommonWealth Beacon
- Share out the AFT National’s resolution in opposition to this scheme
- Use our fact sheet and talking points above to have discussions with your elected officials, district officials, etc. (the ask should always be: please contact Governor Healey and urge her to opt-out!)