Education Tax Credit Plan

May 1, 2000

This year Governor Rowland has proposed legislation that would create a $500.00 Education Tax Credit for Connecticut families.  Eligible expenses currently include only tuition; however, we are working to expand the education expense category to include tutoring, books, lab fees, uniforms and extracurricular activities.  All families who pay tuition to a private or religious school and who meet certain income guidelines ($50,000 for a single filer or $100,000 for people filing as a married couple or individual head of household) would be eligible for this tax credit.

Similar programs have been in effect in numerous states since being rules constitutional  by the US Supreme Court in Mueller v. Allen (1983).  Contrary to arguments made by opponents of tuition tax credits these programs have neither weakened the public schools nor seen the imposition of a state-sponsored religion in the states where similar programs are in place.

Private and parochial school parents in Connecticut are currently bearing a double burden of state and local taxes coupled with ever increasing tuition costs.  By utilizing non-public schools, these families are also easing the burden placed on the state’s crowded public schools as they serve the educational needs of almost 80,000 students.

It is vitally important that your legislatures hear from the Jewish day school community on this issue.  Many State Senators and Representatives view the Jewish community as monolithic on issues of church and state and believe that the community is wholly against any form of government assistance for non-public schools.  We urge you to ask your congregants and day school parents to call their State Senators and Delegates in a show of support for this program.  There will be a vote on this issue in this session of the State Legislature which ends on May 3.

If you have any questions, or for additional information, please contact IPA Associate Director Josh Sussman at 202-857-2772.