Gov. Tate Reeves announced Monday that Mississippi will participate in a federal school-choice tax-credit program, permitting residents to contribute up to $1,700 annually to organizations that award scholarships to private-school students. The program, created by federal legislation passed during the Trump administration, provides dollar-for-dollar tax credits beginning in the 2027 tax year. The move creates a new mechanism for school-choice expansion as Mississippi lawmakers debate the issue.
School choice is the top priority of the current legislative session, with House Speaker Jason White championing the effort despite firm Senate opposition to programs directing public dollars to private schools.
How the Tax Credit Works
Recipients of the credits receive a dollar-for-dollar benefit—approximately three times the benefit of donations to children’s hospitals or other charitable causes. Scholarships are available to families earning up to 300 percent of the area’s median income, approximately $150,000 in Mississippi.
“Mississippi believes that parents – not government – know what’s best for their children’s education,” Reeves said in the announcement.
The School-Choice Debate
Research on school-choice programs nationwide shows that a majority of private-school vouchers go to students who could already afford and were attending private schools before the programs began. Supporters of school-choice policies argue they expand educational options and place decisions with parents rather than government. Opponents contend such programs divert resources from public education, which is required to serve every student regardless of family circumstances.
Sidestepping Legislative Opposition
Both the state House and Senate have passed separate school-choice bills this session, yet Senate leaders have firmly opposed programs directing state tax dollars to private schools. The federal program sidesteps this dispute by functioning through tax incentives rather than direct state appropriations.
Reeves’ office will spend the coming months identifying and designating eligible scholarship-granting organizations to administer the program and distribute vouchers to families who apply.