Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman today blasted Governor Kathy Hochul for blocking New York children from accessing hundreds of millions of dollars in education scholarships and denying low- and middle-income families critical support through a new federal K–12 program — at no cost to state taxpayers.
A new federal program allows taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit — up to $1,700 per individual or $3,400 per married couple — for contributions to nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations. Analysts estimate that even modest participation by high-income New Yorkers could generate between $244 million and $488 million in scholarships each year. But Governor Hochul is blocking New York students from accessing a single dollar of this aid by refusing to opt the state into the program. If she continues to block participation, those scholarships will be sent to students in other states instead of helping New York children.
“Kathy Hochul is taking opportunities away from New York children, plain and simple. By refusing to opt into this program, Hochul is blocking access to tutoring, test preparation, transportation, and tuition assistance for New York students, sending education dollars to other states, and telling New York families they get nothing. That’s a conscious choice, and our kids are paying the price,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman emphasized that New York cannot receive a single dollar unless the governor affirmatively opts the state in. If Hochul continues to block participation, those scholarship funds will be redirected to students in other states. “Hochul isn’t just blocking this money — by refusing to opt New York into the program, she’s redirecting scholarships meant for New York children to students in other states,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman said the consequences of Hochul’s decision are especially severe for Catholic schools and yeshivas, many of which are grappling with rising costs and declining enrollment while continuing to educate tens of thousands of students across New York. He added that organizations such as the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which has already provided more than $375 million in scholarships to New York City families, would be prevented from expanding their reach because the state is being blocked from participating.
“This program doesn’t take money away from public schools — it supports students,” Blakeman said. “But Kathy Hochul is blocking opportunity, plain and simple.”
Blakeman also pointed to the program’s bipartisan support, noting that Jared Polis, a Democrat, has already opted Colorado into the initiative.
“Governor Hochul has a clear and time-sensitive choice,” Blakeman said. “She can stop blocking this program and allow New York students to benefit — or she can continue denying them opportunities that were specifically designed to help them. The cost of inaction will be paid by our children.”