I talk with parents in Spokane Valley, Greenacres and other Eastern Washington communities regularly. Behind almost every conversation is a story that stays with you.
I hear from mothers whose middle schoolers are still reading at a fourth-grade level due to pandemic learning loss. I speak with working fathers who see their high schoolers struggling with basic algebra, worried their children will not graduate prepared for an apprenticeship, college, or a good career.
Research confirms what these parents experience in their families every day. Across Washington, test scores in math and reading remain about eight percentage points below pre-pandemic levels. On average, students here are roughly half a grade level behind where they stood in 2019. For chronic absenteeism, Washington remains among the nation’s worst, with nearly 30% of students missing critical classroom instruction. While dedicated local teachers and community programs work tirelessly, thousands of children are falling through the cracks. They need help immediately.
That brings us to an urgent choice facing Gov. Bob Ferguson, which should have him setting partisan politics aside.
Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code created the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit. This allows individual taxpayers to claim up to $1,700, or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly, as a dollar-for-dollar credit against their federal income taxes when they donate to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).
These SGOs convert private donations into direct educational scholarships for K-12 students. Funds can cover extra tutoring, special-needs therapies, books, technology tools, and alternative educational options.
Federal rules require states to opt into the program. To participate for the upcoming tax year, the Ferguson administration must submit an advance election form by Jan. 1, 2027, and provide a state-certified list of SGOs by Feb. 15.
If that happens, education advocates such as the College Success Foundation and Washington Student Success Coalition estimate our state could capture $700 million to $1 billion annually in federal tax credited donations from individuals and businesses.
Under federal rules, SGOs must spend at least 90% of their total receipts directly on educational scholarships. In that case, $1 billion in total donations could put at least $900 million directly into student scholarships and educational funding.
The key detail is that this program wouldn’t reduce the state budget or public-school funding by a single penny. It simply would let Washington residents direct a fraction of their federal tax liability toward helping local children.
My wife, Rima, and I intend to make the maximum $3,400 joint contribution. We want our donation to remain here and provide an after-school reading tutor for a struggling child in Spokane Valley or Tacoma, or help a teenager in rural Eastern Washington afford specialized learning tools.
That is why I recently led several Senate Republican colleagues in sending a formal letter directly to Ferguson. We urged him to sign Washington up for this federal program before time runs out. This issue is not about partisan fights. It is about protecting opportunities for students.
Unfortunately, the governor and his allies in Olympia have dragged their feet.
If Olympia refuses to act before Jan. 1, Washington residents still may donate and claim their federal tax credit. But because Washington would lack certified SGOs, those donations could not legally benefit children here.
Instead, my wife and I will be forced to direct our $3,400 to participating states, such as Texas, where my grandchildren reside. Millions of dollars in private donations that could have helped local students recover from learning loss will leave the state entirely. Students elsewhere will receive tutoring while those struggling in Spokane Valley, Seattle and Yakima are left behind.
That would be a tragedy, and it is entirely preventable.
I urge Governor Ferguson and others in state leadership to review our letter, set the political playbook aside, and act. This is not about public versus private or conservative versus liberal. It is about whether we will allow vital federal dollars to flow directly to Washington students who need help.
Our children suffered enough during the pandemic. They deserve every tool, tutor, and opportunity available. Let us opt into this program, keep local tax dollars working for local students, and show Washington families that our children's future comes first.
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State Senator Leonard Christian represents Washington’s 4th Legislative District. An Air Force veteran and education advocate, he serves as a key voice for the Senate Republican Caucus on policies related to education, government accountability and learning innovation. For more information, visit www.SenatorLeonardChristian.org.
