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U.S. Secretary Of Education DeVos's Education Tax Credit Proposal Creates Controversy

Betsy DeVos
US Department of Education
Betsy DeVos

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is in Arizona on Thursday to speak at ALEC and to discuss her new tax credit proposal, dubbed Education Freedom Scholarships. Her plan is similar to Arizona’s tax credit model, which provides a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit for individual and corporate donations to school tuition organizations. President Trump’s 2020 budget plan includes $5 billion to pay for the tax credits that would be available under DeVos’ federal plan.

It’s an idea that has contributed to frustrations among public school devotees in Arizona and beyond — their position has been that such tax credits have exacerbated the public school funding situation today. But advocates argue these tax credits are a reflection of educational freedom. 

To explain, The Show spoke to advocate Jeanne Allen, founder and CEO of the conservative Center for Education Reform who presented at ALEC earlier Thursday.

The Show also turned to an opposing view to get the public-school advocacy perspective on tax credit programs. Dawn Penich-Thacker is the communications director for Save Our Schools Arizona, a grassroots group that started in response to efforts to expand the state’s school voucher program. 

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.