New Polling Shows Parents Are Ready for the Education Freedom Tax Credit
Momentum continues to build around the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, and recent national polling confirms something advocates have long believed: parents understand the value of educational opportunity—and they are ready to support it.
New research from EdChoice found strong awareness and support for the federal tax credit among K–12 parents. In fact, parents are significantly more engaged with the policy than the general public, signaling that families who experience education firsthand recognize the potential impact of scholarship programs.
Parents Are Paying Attention
One of the most striking findings from the survey is that K–12 parents are simply more aware of the policy. According to the polling, 27% of school parents say they have heard “a lot” or “a great deal” about the federal tax credit, nearly double the share of adults overall who say the same.
Strong Support from Families
The polling also found nearly three-fourths (72%) of school parents support the federal tax credit for K–12 scholarships, including about one-third who say they strongly support it.
This level of support reflects a growing national consensus that families should have more flexibility when it comes to their child’s education. Parents want options that fit their child’s needs—whether that means a private school, specialized tutoring, or other learning opportunities.
Scholarship programs funded through tax-credit donations help make those options possible, particularly for families who might not otherwise be able to afford them.
Parents Are Also Ready to Give
Perhaps the most encouraging finding for scholarship organizations is that parents are not just supportive, they are willing to participate.
The EdChoice survey found 38% of school parents say they are “extremely” or “very” likely to donate to a scholarship granting organization if their state participates in the tax credit program.
That level of potential participation highlights something powerful: parents do not simply want educational freedom for their own children, they want to help make it possible for other families as well.
What This Means for Alabama
Alabama has already said yes to this national opportunity. In January 2026, Governor Kay Ivey signed an executive order committing our state to participate in the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program. That means Alabama students and families will be able to benefit from this new law starting in 2027.
This federal credit doesn’t replace state tax-credit scholarships like the one AOSF administers now, it adds another powerful tool to the education freedom toolkit. It allows donors to support scholarships above and beyond state programs, amplifying impact without extra cost.
In practical terms, that means donors will be able to support scholarships above and beyond existing state programs, amplifying the number of students who can benefit—without creating additional financial burden for taxpayers.
For families across Alabama, that combination of state and federal opportunity has the potential to expand access to schools and learning environments that best meet their children’s needs. And if the latest national polling is any indication, parents are not only supportive of these opportunities—they are ready to help make them possible.
