Scholarship Overview
New York State has officially opted into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarship program, allowing state participation beginning in the upcoming school year. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the decision after reviewing regulatory guidelines released by the Treasury Department and the IRS. Approved by Congress and President Trump, this federal program incentivizes private giving by offering a 100% federal tax credit to individuals who donate up to $1,700 annually to approved scholarship-granting organizations. These non-profit groups then distribute the funds directly to eligible students. The program relies on private donations rather than state or local government budgets.
Who Can Apply
The scholarship initiative has the potential to assist more than 2.7 million students across New York State. Eligibility requirements established under the program include:
- Students whose household income falls within 300% of the area median income.
- Children from low-income families who require financial assistance for extra educational support.
- Students currently attending public, private, or parochial schools (including religious schools and yeshivas) throughout New York.
Benefits
The financial aid awarded through the participating non-profit organizations varies depending on the type of school the student attends:
- Private and Parochial School Students: Families can utilize the scholarship funds to help defray private school tuition costs.
- Public School Students: Students can use the scholarship money to cover the costs of academic tutoring, after-school programs, or transportation services.
How to Apply
Not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Application Deadlines
Not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: fully funded scholarships 2026 - BingNews · Published October 09, 2026 · Photo by US Embassy New Zealand via Openverse
Always confirm deadlines and eligibility on the official scholarship website.