Gov. Tate Reeves has opted Mississippi into a federal voucher program that expands school choice options as lawmakers on the state level continue to spar over what education preferences should look like.
The program, originally dubbed the “Educational Choice for Children Act” before being included in President Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed “big, beautiful bill” last year, allows taxpayers to be credited for money sent to nonprofits offering financial assistance for K-12 students.
According to the legislation, the program provides a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for eligible taxpayers who donate to approved scholarship-granting organizations, and families earning up to 300% of the area median gross income would qualify for financial relief. Families receiving funding will be able to use the money for tuition, along with costs associated with tutoring, therapy, technology, and even homeschooling.
The area median income is calculated each year by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The calculation is derived by adding the gross annual income of all members of a household age 15 and older, and dividing that total by the number of households. The U.S. Census reports that the annual median household income in Mississippi is $54,915, meaning a family earning up to $164,745 could qualify for a voucher.
“Mississippi believes that parents – not government – know what’s best for their children’s education,” Reeves, a Republican and staunch supporter of school choice, said. “The Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program will help Mississippi continue its historic performance in classrooms across the state and further empower parents to do what’s best for their children. Thank you to President Trump and his administration for continuing to put parents and students first.”
While the leaders of the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate — Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, respectively — have had differing opinions on school choice, the two have agreed on numerous occasions that the federal tax credit ought to be taken advantage of in the Magnolia State. The two initially agreed to support legislation at the state level to implement the plan, prior to the governor taking action.
“We need to pass the deal that allows the federal deduction of $1,700,” Hosemann said at the Neshoba County Fair, while White added, “We have the opportunity to dismantle systemic barriers that damage educational opportunities for our students. Every child, regardless of their zip code, deserves that fair chance to succeed.”
Reeves further announced that, in the coming months, his office will designate eligible scholarship-granting organizations to participate in the federal program. In the meantime, the two legislative chambers in the state capitol have passed a myriad of education-related bills, with school choice being a priority in the House but not as much in the Senate.
The House narrowly passed an omnibus education package that opens the door for universal school choice in Mississippi, allowing for public money to be used on private education, virtually eliminating barriers in public-to-public school transfers, and letting homeschooled children compete in public-school sports. The measure has been endorsed by Reeves and the Trump administration but is not expected to pass in the Senate.