U.S. Education Secretary Holds Press Conference at Lubavitch Educational Center, Highlighting New Federal Scholarship Tax Credit

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon held a press conference at Miami’s Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) to outline the details of the upcoming Federal Scholarship Tax Credit recently signed into law by President Donald Trump. It was her second visit to the school, the first being just two weeks after she took office.

“Education and values begin at home with parents who are teaching their children,” said Ms. McMahon. “Schools like LEC help preserve Jewish faith and traditions for the next generation…A parent’s income should never be the reason a child misses out on an education where he or she could thrive.”

Speaking to school staff, families, and community advocates, McMahon highlighted how the federal policy, the first nation-wide school choice program, will expand educational access for K–12 families when it takes effect this January.

Under the new policy taking effect in January, individual taxpayers can contribute up to $1,700—and married couples filing jointly up to $3,400—to approved non-profit Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit in return. SGOs then allocate these private contributions directly to qualifying families to cover tuition, tutoring, and related K–12 educational costs. Florida was one of the first states to officially opt in to the federal program, integrating the federal incentive directly into its existing school choice network.

Florida’s largest SGO, Step Up for Students, already provides scholarships averaging approximately $8,000 per student to over 200,000 Florida families each year. Under this new program, local SGOs like Step Up for Students can tap into a broader stream of private-sector donations and deliver additional scholarship funding to faith-based and independent institutions like LEC.

Former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, congressional candidate for Florida’s 25th District in Congress, said at the event that this legislation comes at a critical time when Jewish organizations are tirelessly working to address the costs of Jewish education. “We need to raise strong proud students who never have to hide or be afraid of their identity,” he said.

“We have a responsibility to address the conditions that shape a child’s life long before a crisis begins,” said Rabbi Benjy Korf, LEC’s Head of School and Regional Director of Chabad of Florida, at the press conference. “That means starting with the child, family, and values that guide them. It means bringing G-d back into education and raising children to be morally productive—to know that there is a Supreme Being Who cares about what we do and we must act accordingly. Education must be rooted in faith and strong academic standards—and it should be within reach for any family who seeks it.”

SGOs like Step Up for Students help partially cover tuition for thousands of LEC students and is one reason the school can deliver a high-quality Jewish education without turning any child away due to financial inability.

“We want our graduates to be knowledgeable, compassionate, and responsible,” said Rabbi Korf. “We want them to be proud of who they are and prepared to contribute to our country, which has been kind to the Jewish people and people of all faiths. Thank you for allowing us to be who we are and practice what we believe in.”

Photos by Dovid Davidsohn