March 16, 2026 Letter to Mayor and Council - Resist Voucher Funds

16 March 2026

Dear Mayor Bowser and Members of the DC Council,

We value public education. If you share that value, you cannot opt into Section 70411 of the OBBBA which creates a K-12 federal tax credit voucher program and allows states to opt in. Beginning in 2027, individuals can get a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit – up to $1,700 per year per person ($3400 for married couples) – for donations made to designated scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The SGO must distribute 90% of its income to provide vouchers to students attending K–12 schools to support educational costs. The vast majority of the funding is expected to be directed to private school tuition subsidies.

We have no reason to believe that further guidance will allow the mayor to control how these funds are spent. The goal is to privatize education. These are vouchers that divert funds away from public schools. There is no cap on how much in vouchers is available. Families making up to $329,000 would be eligible. While it is allowed it is not required for any funds to be distributed to support students in public schools. Tax credits mean less money available to be spent to support public education, health, SNAP etc. Additionally, voucher expansions necessarily disenfranchise students with disabilities, who may not realize that they waive their IDEA rights if entering into private systems. Students who identify as Multilingual Learners also have no guaranteed services in private systems, and students who experience disciplinary pushout, particularly students of color, have few discrimination protections. The history of school voucher programs show clear exclusionary and racist intent, which has not been mitigated by the OBBA policy. This lack of support has a clear and immediate effect for students who might “benefit” from SGOs.

DC will not control the SGO’s who disburse the funds. The necessary accountability and antidiscrimination measures to protect our students and communities are weak. The federal nondiscrimination protections and civil rights laws are now limited and shrinking. As noted the current voucher program has been costly but not effective.

This tax credit was passed to support students already attending private schools and to incentivize others to join them outside the public system. The threat of a reduced birth rate in the city and school closings is already with us. We don’t know how many families might apply or what the effect will be but we do understand the goal is to destabilize and undermine public schools.

While it is theoretically possible for public school-focused SGOs to raise money for supplemental services, the funds raised by those who support public school giving currently give to their school PTA’s and local fundraisers. There is little chance that funds will go to those that need them the most, advance equity or support our fragile democracy here in DC.

It is short sighted and dangerous to opt in to this program. This administration can continue to eliminate funds for educational programming, community schools and move on to gutting IDEA and Title 1 while they claim they are spending billions on education through the tax credit program.

We the undersigned ask that you do not OPT in and that you stand for Public Education and public programs that will benefit all of the residents of the District of Columbia, not a chosen few.

Organizations Defend DC Public Education Coalition Washington Teachers Union EmpowerEd Teaching for Change Coalition for DC Public Schools and Communities Grassroots DC Decoding Dyslexia DC Jefferson Academy Family Alliance Ward 6 Public School Parent Organization Individuals & Individuals in Official Roles Adom M. Cooper Agatha Koprowaki Alanna Houck Alex Wyld Alexia Tsoukatos Alina Baciu Alison Dowling Allison Hawkins Amanda Gerken Amelia Hogan Andrew Smith Angelique Diggs Anna Kuhn Antonio Jackson Ariscdis Payne-Tsoupros Ashley Holcomb Athena Viscusi Ava Millstone Ayashia Muhammad Begona Rebeca Rodriguez Alonso Beth Leone Betsy Wolf Betsy Wolf Befy Miller Brendan Freehart Brian Slocum Brianna Warren Caprice Casson Cara Schiavone Carlton Ackerman Cathy Reilly Cathy Reilly Cedrece Watson Celia Daughtridge Chloe Asselin Claire Zahava Stehley Colin Welch Damir Cosic Daniel Williams Darlene Serrano DaVaughn Montgomery David Marcnez Avila David Neigus Deborah Menkart Diana Chavez Delvecchio Faison Dorie Turner Nolt Dr. Denise Ray Dylan Craig E. Inez Steigerwald Ebony Marshman Edivia Henderson Elisa Gunduz Elizabeth Kingsley Elizabeth Mitchell Elizabeth Weiss Elyse Lerum Emily Gasoi Emily Roderer Emily Young Emma Bechill Erika Smith Ethan Wise Eva Heintzelman Fid Thompson Fred J Solowey Gabriel Webster Gabrielle McRae Geoffrey Hatchard Georgena Williams Gloria Schoolfield Hanlon Smith-Dorsey Hannah Bauman Hannah Putman Hake Shaw Holly Poole-Kavana Hope LeGro India Locklear Jacqueline C Johnson Jaime Arora Jaime Willis Jean Blackerby Strich Jeannemarie Otersen Jenelle Whifaker Jennifer Hunter Jennifer Schiller Jennifer Wharton Jessica Champagne Jessie Caola Joanna Peltason John Agan Jonathan Inman Juan Butler Julia Hedlund, ANC 5F07 Julia Linfors Julie Meyer Kailah Prater Karen Eschbach Karen Pence Karla Reid-Wif Katherine Beckman-Gotrich Kathleen Barber Kace Quafrone Kennieth Smith Khaleelah Cohen Kimberly Ellis Kimberly Harrington Kirsten Wifkowski Krayna Feinberg Kristen Arant Kriscn Sinclair Kya Mathews LaQuanna Jones Laura Fichst Laura Pefy Laura Worby Leigh Dingerson Lewis Erickson Liane Scof Lindsay Tauscher Lisa Addison Lola Dardzinski Lorena Flores Louienyl Castor Lupi Grady, President and CEO, Lacn American Youth Center Lynda Tredway Magaly Flores Perez Manissa Maharawal Marcella Daniel Marchelle Putney Marcy Hairston Maria Helena Carey Marie Dennis Marissa P Yeakey Mark Simon Marlena Mitchell Mafhew church Megan Caine Megan Dunn Megan Luczak Megan Mamula Melanie Roussell Newman Melissa Alto Michael Lake Michaela Beroza Friedman Michelle Burrows Doerr Molly Timmins Morgan M Ward Nancy Sarah Smith Nicolas Sardella Nina Miraflores Nina Smith Olivia DiBiase Patricia Oliver Patricia Ruane Paula Kaplan Payton Persinger Qiana Hooker Rachael Brown Rachel Adenan Rachel Delaney Rachel Edgerton Rachel Henighan Rachel Venator Rasasa chikaka Rebecca Askin Rebecca Bauer Rebecca Helgerson Rebecca Pred-Sosa Renana Fox Rev. Roderick K. Moore Rick Reinhard Robert Henderson, Ward 5 Representacve, SBOE Robin Appleberry Roni DiGenno Ruth Wafenberg Ryan Shepard Ryan Townsley Samantha Kaplan Samantha Trumbull Sandra M. Granobles Sandra Moscoso Sandra Ponce Sara Norman Sarah Carlson Jackson Sarah Davidson Sarah Riggen Sarah Roma Sarah Silver Sasha W Clayton Sean Farr Sean Mitchell Shaaren Pine Shelby Hackney Shirley Thompson Somone Manson Sophia Barafa Stacy Roberts Suzanne Wells Tasha Salley-Leroy Taylor Moore Tene Penny Teneisha Holder Thaeya Adams Thea Lee Thomas Guglielmo Tiffany Bell Valerie Jablow, EducaconDC.net Valerie Montana Wendy Bond