NATIONAL PARENTS UNION · NATIONAL PARENT POLL · MAY 2026

YES TO
OPPORTUNITY

How American families feel about the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit.

78%

want their state to opt in

84%

would apply for their own kids

THE PROGRAM · NEW STARTING 2027

America’s first national education tax credit — and 90%+ of families qualify.

1

A dollar-for-dollar federal credit

Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) — a version of the Educational Choice for Children Act. Taxpayers get up to $1,700 for donating to scholarship-granting organizations.

2

Scholarships for everyday learning

Families can use them for tutoring, after-school & summer programs, educational technology — or private school tuition.

3

Over 90% of K–12 families eligible

Far broader than a traditional voucher — built to reach the vast majority of public-school families.

4

But states must opt in

The credit only reaches families in states that choose to participate. That decision is being made right now.

A once-in-a-generation chance to expand opportunity — and the decision runs through the states.

THE TOP LINE · MAY 2026

When families hear what it does, the answer is a resounding yes.

78%

want their state to participate in the Education Freedom Tax Credit

and

84%

would apply for scholarships for their own children — 47% “definitely”

Just 9% say no. This is a green light from American families.

PART ONE

SUPPORT THIS WIDE
IS NO ACCIDENT.

Across party, place, paycheck, and background — the families NPU represents agree.

AN INSTINCT, NOT A TALKING POINT

Most families want it before they’ve even heard of it.

Only 32% have heard a lot or some about the Education Freedom Tax Credit — a third have heard nothing at all. Yet 78% already want their state in.

As families learn what it offers, support has nowhere to go but up.

78 IN 100 WANT THEIR STATE TO PARTICIPATE
— ONLY 32 HAVE HEARD MUCH ABOUT IT

POLITICAL · A RARE CONSENSUS

Democrats and Republicans agree — by nearly identical margins.

% who want their state to participate in the Education Freedom Tax Credit

BY PARTY

Democrats82%

Republicans80%

Independents71%

BY IDEOLOGY

Liberal81%

Conservative79%

Moderate77%

In a divided country, left and right land in the same place: yes.

GEOGRAPHIC · EVERY MAP, EVERY MAIN STREET

From the coasts to the country road.

% who want their state to participate, by region

81%

South

77%

Midwest

75%

Northeast

74%

West

WANT THEIR STATE IN — BY COMMUNITY

86% Urban

74% Suburban

73% Rural

No region below 73%. Opportunity has no zip code.

ECONOMIC · NOT A PERK FOR THE WEALTHY

Working and middle-class families want it most of all.

% who would apply for scholarships for their children, by household income

$50,000 – $75,00089%

$30,000 – $50,00084%

$75,000 – $125,00083%

$125,000 or more83%

Less than $30,00082%

Demand is strongest where opportunity gaps are widest — 82–89% at every income. Wanting their state in holds just as flat: 76–79% across the board.

DEMOGRAPHIC · THE HEART OF THE MANDATE

The families furthest from opportunity want it most.

% who would apply for scholarships for their children

Black families91%

Hispanic families90%

Parents under 4088%

White families80%

Black (89%) and Hispanic (82%) families are also the likeliest to want their state in — and the likeliest to say they’d “definitely” apply.

FROM EVERY ANGLE · THE CONSENSUS IN ONE PICTURE

Wherever you look, the number stays high.

% supportive, by group — across two national polls. Darker = stronger support.

Not one cell below 71%. This is what a real mandate looks like.

PART TWO

IT’S ABOUT LEARNING —
NOT LEAVING.

Why families want this credit — in their own priorities.

WHAT FAMILIES WOULD USE IT FOR

Top intended uses among families who would apply (up to two)

School supplies34%

After-school learning programs28%

Academic tutoring27%

Educational technology21%

Test fees · books · online programs12–15%

Private school tuition9%

9%

would put it toward private school tuition.

Families want to build their kids up — not walk away from public schools.

THE EVIDENCE, ONE YEAR EARLIER · DECEMBER 2025

Support lives or dies on flexibility.

% who support a state tax-credit scholarship program, depending on what it can fund

82%

Extended learning or private school
(families choose)

77%

Extended learning for
public-school students only

40%

Private school
tuition only

A credit that serves public-school kids wins 82%. A private-school-only credit loses the public — and May 2026 confirmed it.

A GOOD USE OF PUBLIC MONEY

Parents see this as money well spent.

% calling each a good use of taxpayer money

Expanding academic tutoring for K–12 public-school students85%

Expanding the child tax credit for low- & middle-income families79%

A fund for those who feel unfairly targeted (incl. Jan. 6)27%

A new White House ballroom12%

Investing in kids’ learning isn’t controversial — it’s the most popular thing government can do.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR STATES

The families have spoken. The decision sits with the states.

PARTICIPATION

It runs through the states

The credit only reaches families in states that choose to participate, beginning in 2027 — and more than 90% of K–12 families qualify.

DESIGN IT RIGHT

Build it for extended learning

Parents back the flexible version 2-to-1 over private-tuition-only. Center tutoring, after-school, STEM and supplemental special-education services.

CLOSE THE GAP

Reach who needs it most

Demand is highest among Black, Hispanic, urban and working-class families — the very families locked out of enrichment that only money could buy.

TRUST PARENTS

Let families choose

84% would apply. Give parents the tools and the trust to direct their own children’s learning.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A clear, bipartisan mandate for opportunity.

78%

want their state to participate

84%