The governor is sitting on a decision that could reshape how millions of dollars flow through New York’s education system.

Teachers unions and other groups are pushing back against a plan by Gov. Kathy Hochul to join a new federal education tax credit program. The coalition, made up of more than 60 groups, argues the program would lead to the defunding of public schools.

A statewide poll released by New York State United Teachers says a majority of New York voters oppose the state opting into a taxpayer-funded private school voucher program.

The Trump administration has offered states the possibility of creating a voucher program that would undermine our public schools. Gov. Hochul should say no. Donald Trump’s scheme stands to redirect hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars from public schools and send the money to elite private schools. Who benefits? The rich. Who pays? The rest of us.

In theory, these programs are supposed to give children an educational opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have. In reality, students already in private or home school are most likely to benefit, an analysis by The Associated Press shows.

Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon said in a statement that the Trump administration’s information release “indicates states like Oregon will not have the flexibility they need to participate in alignment with our values.

The leaders of over two dozen teachers unions in 23 Democratic-led states are urging their governors not to opt in to the new federal scholarship tax credit created by the GOP's sweeping domestic policy law.

It would be a mistake for Gov. Hochul to opt us in to a program that harms the goals of equal educational opportunity.

Fifteen members of New York’s Democratic congressional delegation are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject a GOP-backed federal tax credit scholarship program, arguing it will disproportionately benefit wealthy families and siphon resources from traditional public schools.