Resolution Supporting Private Scholarship Tax Credits Exposed

The Resolution Supporting Private Scholarship Tax Credits was adopted by ALEC's Education Task Force at the Annual Meeting August 2, 2001. Approved by full ALEC Board of Directors September, 2001. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

CMD's Bill Summary

This resolution attempts to garner state legislative support for more tax cuts for businesses and like-minded individuals to help subsidize corporations in the business of private schools. It makes an appeal to low income and minority group families as part of its effort to reduce the taxes of for-profit corporations and others if they donate to scholarships (that could be used for students of any socio-economic background, including the most privileged) that could be used to pay tuition to for-profit education companies or religious or secular primary and secondary schools. It is another way taxes available to support public education and other public institutions can be reduced in order to subsidize for-profit and other schools.

ALEC Bill Text

Summary

This resolution declares the state legislative body’s support for the creation of a tax credit for individuals and businesses that make a contribution to a nonprofit scholarship or educational assistance organization.

Resolution

WHEREAS, the individual development of young people is critical to their future success and that of this country, and encouraging parental involvement is an important component of a child’s success; and

WHEREAS, each child is unique and learns differently, and many children are likely to benefit from expanded educational opportunities, including tutorial assistance, transportation to another public school, after school programs, or attendance at a nonpublic school; and

WHEREAS, the private sector has historically demonstrated an ability and willingness to address many of the challenges facing society, including education; and

WHEREAS, privately-funded scholarships are an excellent and popular means by which parents and guardians can exercise expanded educational opportunities for their children, especially children from low income families and the minority community; and

WHEREAS, a credit against taxes for contributions to nonprofit scholarship or educational assistance organizations will make more privately-funded scholarships available, and thereby expand the educational opportunities available to children of families that have limited financial resources and increase the academic achievements of children across the country;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the {insert name of state legislative body} supports the creation of a tax credit for donations to nonprofit organizations that make more privately funded scholarships and educational assistance available to children.