Pro-school choice Jewish groups praised the Trump administration on Thursday for new regulations that they say will effectively double an education tax credit for married couples.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in 2025, “any taxpayer” could receive a $1,700 credit for payments to charities that disburse K-12 scholarships. In new guidance released on Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury clarified that it interprets the legislation to mean that a married couple filing jointly may receive a $3,400 credit.

Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, said these were “essential provisions” for advocates of religious school choice.

“That literally doubles the potential for this program to transform the math of funding Jewish education in America,” Diament told JNS.

Sheila Katz, chief Jewish life officer for Jewish Federations of North America, said that the tax credit “creates an opportunity that has never existed before.”

“For the Jewish community, this has the potential to make Jewish day school more affordable and will drastically increase access to Jewish education for generations to come,” she stated.

The Trump administration hailed the underlying program, which is set to take effect in 2027, as “the largest expansion of school choice in history.”

“The Education Freedom Tax Credit marks a new chapter in educational freedom and opportunity by establishing America’s first nationwide school choice program and empowering states to give students and families more options,” stated Scott Bessent, U.S. treasury secretary.

While the credit is available nationwide, individual states must opt in to the program. So far, 30 states have done so.

“We now urge the remaining 20 governors to opt in as soon as possible and for all states to move forward in approving scholarship-granting organizations that will provide educational opportunities for eligible students,” stated Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of government affairs at Agudath Israel of America.

“Today’s announcement is great news for American families and provides the necessary clarity to allow states and scholarship organizations to implement the tax credit in time for its launch in January 2027,” Agudah stated.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, touted the guidelines as a “major step” for school choice.

“Parents know their children best, and they deserve the freedom to choose the education that works best for their family,” Walberg stated. “The Education Freedom Tax Credit will give millions of families more options and more control over their children’s education, regardless of their ZIP code or income.