Virginia lawmakers approve school choice tax-credit program
Richmond, VA — The nation’s original school choice organization, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, applauds Virginia lawmakers for passing a tax-credit scholarship program for its students in need. In doing so, Virginia inches closer toward becoming the newest member of the school choice “family.”
Today, the Virginia State Senate passed a tax-credit scholarship bill by a vote of 20-20. The tie was broken by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.
“Virginia lawmakers concluded what Democrats and Republicans in 17 other states have long known: School choice helps parents obtain better learning environments for their children,” Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Friedman Foundation, said.
The Senate measure now faces a vote in the Virginia House, which passed its own tax-credit scholarship measure earlier this week. Should it receive House approval, Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the bill into law. Accordingly, Virginia would join eight other states that offer tax credits to nonprofits that, in turn, distribute private school scholarships.
For years, the Friedman Foundation has assisted the broad, diverse coalition of organizations working to bring school choice to Virginia. Critical to those efforts was the leadership of Chris Braunlich, Vice President of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy.
“This success would not have been possible without the diligence and hard work of our state leaders and student-focused organizations,” Braunlich said. “We also are grateful to the Friedman Foundation for their ongoing support as we worked to educate Virginians on how school choice will benefit our children most in need.”
About the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, solely dedicated to advancing Milton and Rose Friedman’s vision of school choice for all children. First established as the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation in 1996, the Foundation continues to promote school choice as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. The Foundation is dedicated to research, education, and outreach on the vital issues and implications related to choice and competition in K-12 education.