Scholarship Overview
New York State has officially joined the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program following an announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul. Originally created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, the FSTC program requires state governors to opt in so their residents can participate. Beginning January 1, 2027, the program allows taxpayers in participating states to earn federal tax credits by donating to designated Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), which then distribute educational funding to students.
Who Can Apply
Funding through this program is available to K-12 students across New York who attend public, religious, independent, or charter schools. Specific family income criteria or detailed recipient requirements are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Benefits
The scholarships help families pay for a broad range of approved educational expenses. These qualified expenses include:
- Tuition costs
- Tutoring and after-school enrichment programs
- Special education and special needs services
- School transportation
- Uniforms, textbooks, supplies, and required equipment
Additionally, taxpayers who donate to approved SGOs receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for individual tax filers or up to $3,400 for married couples filing jointly.
How to Apply
To implement the program, the governor must first provide a list of qualified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury. Donors contribute cash to these recognized organizations, and the SGOs disburse scholarship funds directly to eligible K-12 students. Specific application forms, submission portals, and deadlines for students or families seeking scholarships are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: fully funded scholarships 2026 - BingNews · Published October 10, 2026 · Photo by Ken Lund via Openverse
Always confirm deadlines and eligibility on the official scholarship website.