JNS
Rabbi A.D. Motzen, who praised the move, told JNS that there is no opt-out mechanism.
Agudath Israel of America is praising Virginia and Iowa for moving quickly to join a new federal scholarship tax-credit program that could help families afford private and religious education, an effort the group says could expand support for Jewish day-school tuition in 2027.
Under the new federal program, individuals will be able to claim a nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $1,700, starting in 2027, for donations to approved scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). States must “opt in” first so that the SGOs can be approved and ready before the credit becomes available.
Agudath Israel said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, both Republicans, have already signed on to the program.
Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s national director of government affairs, told JNS the move is significant in Virginia “because Gov. Youngkin is leaving office on Jan. 17.”
He noted that since there is no “opt-out” mechanism, “we believe that this decisive action guarantees that Virginia families will be able to access this new scholarship funding in 2027.”
Youngkin’s office sent the U.S. Treasury Department a preliminary list of SGOs on Jan. 9, even though the IRS has not yet opened its online portal for official submissions. It includes the Torah Education Scholarship Fund, which Agudath Israel said is meant to support students seeking to attend Jewish schools in Virginia.
“We are especially appreciative that his administration worked closely with scholarship organizations, including one serving the Jewish community,” Motzen said.
