A coalition of more than 60 New York organizations spanning labor unions, civil rights groups, education associations, parent organizations and civic groups has united in opposition to New York’s participation in President Trump’s taxpayer-funded private school voucher scheme.

The federal voucher program—part of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law by Trump—takes effect January 1, 2027, but only in states where the governor affirmatively opts in. Several Democratic governors have already declined to participate. The coalition is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject the program in New York.

Thousands of New Yorkers have already signed a petition asking Hochul to keep public dollars in the public schools that serve 90 percent of New York’s kids—with hundreds of new signatures being added every day.

Polling from this week shows that 57 percent of voters oppose New York opting in, including 38 percent who strongly oppose it.

In May, 15 members of New York’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Hochul, calling on her to protect New York’s longstanding dedication to public education.

The coalition’s opposition is also rooted in documented evidence from multiple states that have already launched programs using tax dollars to boost private schools. In Arizona, a universal voucher program projected to cost $65 million annually ballooned to $864 million—more than 10 times the estimate—and contributed to a $1.4 billion state budget shortfall. The vast majority of families using Arizona’s program were already sending their children to private schools.

“New York has the benefit of learning from the experience of other states,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “Across the country, voucher programs have diverted billions of dollars from public schools, increased segregation, fueled waste and abuse, and overwhelmingly subsidized families already enrolled in private schools. We don’t have to repeat those mistakes.”

The federal program, as described so far, would operate with no requirement that participating private schools meet the same accountability standards as public schools and no ability for states to include their own additional guidelines. Private schools accepting voucher dollars may legally turn away students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students and children from families who don’t share the school’s religious beliefs.

A full list of coalition members is available at www.publicschoolsuniteus.org/our-initiatives/voucher-program/our-coalition.

New Yorkers who wish to add their name to the petition can do so at www.publicschoolsuniteus.org/our-initiatives/voucher-program/take-action 

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)
Latham, NY