Governor Kathy Hochul told a meeting of Agudah askanim on Thursday that New York will opt into the federal Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a landmark school choice tax credit program that will provide $5 billion annually in K-12 scholarships nationwide beginning in 2027.

The announcement came at a private event held at the offices of Agudah Chairman Sol Werdiger, with members of the Agudah board – including Executive VP Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, COO Avi Schnall, Yeruchem Silber, Chaskel Bennett, and additional Agudah askanim – in attendance.

The ECCA, signed into law by President Donald Trump as part of his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is modeled after tax credit programs already operating in more than twenty states. The legislation provides a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for donors who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), which in turn provide scholarships covering a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition.

Agudath Israel of America played a central role in crafting and advancing the legislation alongside legislative sponsors and coalition partners over several years.

Beginning in 2027, donors in every state that opts in can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for contributions to nonprofit scholarship organizations, which will then distribute K-12 scholarships to eligible students.

The maximum contribution per taxpayer is capped at $1,700, but the program carries no overall national cap — allowing communities to raise scholarship funds from taxpayers across the country. The credit has been written permanently into the federal tax code.

Eligibility for scholarships is determined by income thresholds based on a family’s place of residence. According to Agudath Israel, most families in Orthodox Jewish communities will qualify under the program’s generous income guidelines.

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