Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB817

Introduced
1/28/25  

Caption

Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

Impact

The bill is expected to have a significant impact on state education laws by enhancing the funding available for educational scholarships, especially for underserved communities. By allowing individuals a tax credit based on their contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, it encourages private donations which could supplement public education funding. A notable aspect is the cap on the total credits available each year, aimed at managing the financial implications on federal tax revenue while incentivizing educational funding through private contributions.

Summary

House Bill 817, known as the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025, is designed to amend the Internal Revenue Code to establish a tax credit for individuals making charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations that provide education scholarships for qualified elementary and secondary students. This initiative is aimed at expanding access to educational opportunities for families and allowing greater educational choice. The proposed bill sets specific eligibility criteria for both donors and scholarship recipients, promoting educational equity and financial support for lower-income households.

Contention

Among the points of contention, critics may argue that the bill could divert essential public school funding to private or religious institutions, effectively undermining public education systems. Supporters of the bill, however, contend that it expands educational choices and provides necessary relief for families who struggle with educational costs. The language within the bill that prohibits governmental control over scholarship granting organizations is also a key aspect leading to debates on the extent of government involvement in education funding and oversight.

Congress_id

119-HR-817

Policy_area

Taxation

Introduced_date

2025-01-28

Companion Bills

US SB292

Related bill Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

US HB833

Related Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

Similar Bills

US SB292

Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

US SB487

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act or the CHOICE ActThis bill expands school choice programs for elementary and secondary school students.The bill specifies that a student in the District of Columbia must, in order to qualify for an opportunity scholarship, be currently enrolled, or be enrolled for the next school year, in a public or private elementary or secondary school.The bill also authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to support the design and implementation of state programs that allow the parent of a child with a disability to choose the appropriate public or private school for their child. It also outlines the requirements for program eligibility.Further, if the state has established a program that allows parents to use public or private funds to assist with the cost of their child attending a private school, then the state may supplement those funds with federal special education funds.Additionally, the Department of Defense must carry out a five-year pilot program to award scholarships to enable military dependent students who live on military installations to attend the public or private elementary or secondary schools their parents choose.The bill also requires ED to return to the Treasury specified amounts made available for salaries and expenses.

US HB1183

Fair Play for Women Act

US SB311

ACE Act Achieving Choice in Education Act

US HB1049

Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act

US HB1069

Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act or the PROTECT Our Kids ActThis bill prohibits federal education funding for any elementary or secondary school that directly or indirectly receives support from the Chinese government.Specifically, the bill prohibits such funding for any school that (1) has a partnership in effect with a cultural or language institute funded by the Chinese government, including a Confucius Institute; (2) operates a learning center supported by the Chinese government (commonly referred to as a Confucius Classroom); or (3) receives support from an individual or entity acting on behalf of the Chinese government, including support in the form of teaching materials, personnel, funds, or other resources. However, the Department of Education (ED) may issue a waiver of the prohibition if a school has an existing contract with one of these entities and the school demonstrates that the contract is for the benefit of the school and promotes the security, stability, and economy of the United States.The bill directs ED to provide notice of the bill's requirements to schools, as well as guidance for achieving compliance with the requirements.

US HB1005

Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act or the CLASS ActThis bill prohibits public elementary and secondary schools, as a condition of receiving federal elementary and secondary education funds, from accepting funds from or entering into a contract with the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or any individual or entity acting on behalf of the Chinese government or the CCP. The bill also requires schools to disclose funding from or contracts with a foreign source to the Department of Education.

US HB2034

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act