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Adams 12 board adopts resolution opposing proposed federal tax‑credit scholarship program (HR1)
Summary
The board unanimously adopted a resolution urging the governor not to opt into a proposed federal $1,700 tax‑credit scholarship program (HR1), citing concerns about lack of federal rulemaking, potential harm to rural districts, and impacts on students with disabilities.
The Adams 12 Five Star Schools board on Tuesday adopted a resolution opposing a proposed federal tax-credit scholarship program (referred to in discussion as HR1) that would allow a $1,700 federal tax credit to be redirected to scholarship-granting organizations.
Board members cited several concerns: the Treasury Department has not completed rulemaking for the program; participation would be decided at the governor's discretion (the governor has until Dec. 31 to opt in); and several directors said available examples suggest risk to public revenues and services in other states. One board member summarized the district’s view, calling the proposal "basically a tax credit for the rich. Let's just call it what it is." Another board member raised concerns that a voucher-style program could "significantly impact students with disabilities that receive education services under IDEA laws," because private schools do not have the same legal obligations to provide IDEA services.
Speakers at the National School Boards Association event and district delegates discussed state examples. Board members referenced Nebraska, where voters later reversed an earlier decision after reporting substantial fiscal impacts in many districts, and noted reporting of fiscal and accountability issues in Florida’s program. Directors concluded that the program, as currently proposed and without federal rules and oversight, posed equity and funding risks for public districts and voted to adopt the resolution opposing the governor opting into the program.
What’s next: the board passed the resolution unanimously and encouraged continued advocacy at the state level; no immediate change in district policy or funding authority resulted from the resolution.
