Finally, there’s a chance for national unity in this time of division.
On October 1, the Trump administration issued the final rules for the new federal tax credit scholarship program. The President and Congress created this program last year to empower families in all 50 states to choose the education that’s best for their kids. So far, 30 governors have opted in, and many of the rest have been waiting to see what the federal rules would be — including Governor Josh Shapiro.
He now has his answer. These scholarships will give families access to unprecedented options. Some could use the money to pay for private school. Others could devote it to homeschooling. And families that love their public schools could use the money to pay for extra tutoring or supplies.
In other words, everybody wins. That’s why Governor Shapiro should opt into the program. So families in Pennsylvania can share in this victory. So that we can all unite in support of our students — starting in the Commonwealth and then spreading across the U.S.
Will Governor Shapiro lead the way? He could be a shining example to his fellow governors across the nation. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan. Ned Lamont in Connecticut. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. Katie Hobbs in Arizona. Wes Moore in Maryland. All of them have said they’re waiting for the new federal rules. They’ve kept the door open. Now it’s time to walk through that door and empower families.
There’s also New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She showed real courage by saying she’d opt into the scholarship program earlier this year. She has since faced heavy pressure from her teachers’ union allies to reverse her decision — even though the scholarships don’t take money from public schools and can actually help public school students. Governor Hochul has yet to formally opt in, and she’s now reviewing the federal rules. Hopefully her courage holds now that she’s at the final hurdle.
If Governor Shapiro and his peers don’t opt in, taxpayers in their states will still fund scholarships to claim the federal tax credits. But they’ll be forced to fund scholarship-granting organizations in other states, instead of their own.
All told, the Treasury Department estimates that 2.2 million students could benefit a year — with $26 billion in scholarships. PA families need their share of that money.
No governor should want to see that transfer of wealth beyond their border, at the expense of students in their home state. The new federal rules actually doubled how much tax credit married filers can claim. So if governors don’t opt in, they could lose twice as much money to neighboring states. All told, the Treasury Department estimates that 2.2 million students could benefit a year — with $26 billion in scholarships. PA families need their share of that money.
But as much as the money matters, the morality matters more. No governor should want to deny families choice. No governor should miss this chance to begin addressing our national learning crisis. No governor should want to watch the next generation fall behind, compared to children in other states. Every governor should seize this opportunity—an opportunity that won’t cost a dime of taxpayer money, yet will be worth a fortune to the families who get scholarships.
Every American has heard the phrase, “no child left behind.” Well, today, we need no family left behind. And we need no governor left behind. We need leaders like Governor Shapiro to put aside politics and unite in support of the next generation. We need this scholarship program in place nationwide. It will offer justice and access to families, so they can unlock the potential in their children and the genius of the next generation.
This is a powerful moment for national unity. Not the symbolic unity that quickly fades, but the tangible unity that empowers people to rise. What could be more powerful in this time of division? What could be more influential heading into the 2028 presidential primaries and election?
Governors, especially Governor Shapiro: if you have the courage to choose our nation’s children, you will unite America when we need it most.
Rev. Joshua C. Robertson is senior pastor of The Rock Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and founder and CEO of Black Pastors United for Education.
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