Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that New York will participate in President Donald Trump's federal school voucher program, a decision that sets up conflict with teachers unions and elected officials who oppose the initiative.
Hochul, a Democrat, first expressed support for the GOP-led program in May. The program is structured as a federal tax credit. Her office said it was waiting for final regulations to be published before New York formally opted in, to ensure there were no "poison pills" in the framework. Those regulations were published last week.
"After a careful review of the federal regulations, we believe this program has the potential to bring millions of additional dollars to New York students and families without taking a single dollar from public schools or our state or local budgets," Hochul said.
Teachers unions and several elected officials have voiced strong opposition to the voucher program. The announcement Friday is expected to intensify that opposition in the state.