The start of a new school year brings a familiar ritual: Backpacks are packed, first-day photos are snapped, and families send children to school with optimism about the year ahead.
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families → bring → year
That optimism is backed by a significant investment.
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optimism → back → investment
This year, American families are expected to spend more than $43 billion preparing for school — a reflection of how deeply parents believe education can shape their children’s future.
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education → expect → future
That hope is real, but so is the frustration many families feel.
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families → feel → ?
62% of Americans think K-12 education is on the wrong track nationwide, and only 37% believe K-12 schools are headed in the right direction.
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schools → think → direction
Those numbers should not be read as an indictment of teachers or local schools.
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numbers → read → teachers
They point to something more constructive: families need resources so students can access learning opportunities and thrive.
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students → point → opportunities
Like generations before them, parents hope their children will have opportunities they never had and will build better lives than their own.
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they → hope → own
The question now is how to help more families access the options and support their children need.
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children → help → options
Too often, education debates are framed as a choice between one type of school and another.
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debates → frame → school
Parents this year are not looking for political arguments.
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Parents → look → arguments
They are looking for solutions that help their children learn, grow, and succeed.
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children → look → solutions
Every child learns differently.
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child → learn → ?
Some need tutoring or specialized services.
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Some → need → tutoring
Others benefit from a different learning environment, additional technology, transportation support, or educational resources that make learning click.
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learning → benefit → environment
Giving families more ways to meet those needs creates more opportunities for students to succeed.
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students → give → opportunities
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the Education Freedom Tax Credit offers Americans a new way to expand those opportunities.
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Credit → begin → opportunities
For the first time, taxpayers can receive a federal tax credit for donating to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations, which provide scholarships and other qualifying educational services tailored to students’ individual needs.
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which → receive → needs
Already, 30 states have chosen to participate.
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states → choose → ?
Just as important, the Education Freedom Tax Credit does not reduce state education funding.
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Credit → reduce → funding
Instead, it encourages new charitable investment in education, creating additional resources to help students succeed.
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students → encourage → resources
That moves the conversation beyond the false choice between supporting schools and supporting students.
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That → move → students
America’s tradition of generosity tells a different story.
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tradition → tell → story
In 2025, Americans donated more than $92 billion to education, an 11.7% increase from the year before.
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Americans → donate → year
Families also spend more than $43 billion each back-to-school season because they believe education is worth investing in.
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education → spend → school
When Americans see a clear opportunity to help children and strengthen communities, they step forward.
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they → see → communities
The Education Freedom Tax Credit builds on that tradition by creating a new pathway for charitable investment in students.
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Credit → build → students
If just 15% of taxpayers with a federal tax liability participate, the program could generate an estimated $12 billion annually in new donations to expand educational opportunity across the country.
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program → participate → country
Best of all, students in every learning environment are slated to benefit.
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students → slat → environment
Imagine what that could mean: More students could start the year with access to tutoring that helps them catch up or move ahead.
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them → imagine → tutoring
More families could afford the school or learning environment that fits their child.
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that → afford → child
More communities could connect students with tutoring, technology, educational therapies, or other services that make a meaningful difference.
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that → connect → difference
Student needs are becoming more diverse, while communities are adapting to changing demographics and enrollment patterns.
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communities → become → demographics
Back-to-school season reminds us of what education is ultimately about.
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education → remind → what
It is not about winning political arguments.
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It → win → arguments
It is about giving every child the opportunity to reach their potential, grow academically, and gain the tools they need to succeed.
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they → give → tools
The Education Freedom Tax Credit will give Americans a practical way to help make that happen.
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that → give → way
Taxpayers can identify approved Scholarship Granting Organizations and consider contributing when the credit becomes available.
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credit → identify → Organizations
Community leaders, employers, educators, and parents can help spread the word so families know these opportunities exist.
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opportunities → help → word
If we want next year’s back-to-school season to look different, the work begins now.
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work → want → school
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
