Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save (The Center Square) — Teachers' unions want New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to walk back plans to join the Trump administration's “school choice” program, claiming that it would divert students and money from public schools.
In remarks on Wednesday, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called on Hochul to reverse her plans to opt into a federal tax-credit scholarship program passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last year. She and other critics claim it will allow public funding to be diverted to private schools that can refuse to admit higher-need children.
“Vouchers are about allowing private schools to pick and choose who they admit, leaving the most vulnerable children behind," she told reporters in comments directed to Hochul. "Opt out right now."
A Hochul spokesperson defended the state's decision to join the school choice program, dismissing claims that it would siphon away money from public schools.
"These credits have the potential to expand academic opportunity for public and private school stud...