The Education Freedom Tax Credit is a WIN for New Mexico Students
Santa Fe, NM — This week, New Mexico opted into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, opening the door to new scholarships for New Mexico students beginning January 1, 2027. The program gives taxpayers a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 ($3,400 for joint filers) for donations to approved nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations (SGO's). Those scholarships help families pay for tutoring, special education services, before- and after-school programs, books, technology and tuition for students in both public and private schools. More than 90% of K-12 students are expected to qualify, and the program costs the state budget nothing.
In response, Senator Gabriel Ramos (R-Silver City), Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement:
"Opting into this program is common sense. It puts more opportunities in front of New Mexico students and lets parents choose the tutoring, services, or school that fits their child's needs. Every student learns differently, and this gives families the tools to help their kids succeed in the classroom and in whatever career path they choose.
This program does not cost the state a dime, and public school students can benefit right alongside private school students. Additionally, over 30 states – red and blue alike – have already taken advantage of this common sense approach; doing what's best for our children should never be a partisan issue. I applaud the Governor for making the right decision here on behalf of our students' educational futures.
Let's be honest about where that status quo has left us. New Mexico ranks 50th in the nation in education. Only about one in five 4th graders reads proficiently, and just 14% of 8th graders are proficient in math. Whatever we have been doing in New Mexico education has been a cataclysmic failure for our kids, and we cannot keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.
This decision may come up for reconsideration in January. Let the record show that my colleagues and I fully support keeping New Mexico in this program. Our students deserve every opportunity available to them, and we will keep fighting for more common sense solutions like this one."
