With Idaho Governor Brad Little signing into law the Parental Choice Tax Credit last year, Idaho became the latest state to offer its K–12 families an individual education tax credit. A truly transformative education policy, education tax credits give families what they desire: more flexibility and control to build a learning experience that fits each child.
While Idaho became the 11th state to pass an education tax credit for its families, seven others introduced tax credit legislation in 2025. Iowa was first out of the gate in 2026 to introduce a bill, and more are poised to do so. This is encouraging because not only do education tax credits restore trust in families to make the right decisions for them, but they are also the easiest form of education freedom to implement.
Education tax credits empower families with an alternative and streamlined approach to education by offering them a credit when they educate their children outside of a public school setting. By simply indicating on a tax form or application that their dependent is not enrolled in a public school, families receive a tax credit. These policies can be simple for states to implement, as they leverage existing tax mechanisms.
While education tax credits aren’t as ubiquitous as education freedom policies like education savings accounts, Americans across the country are just as supportive.
Our most recent national survey found that 58% of U.S. adults support an income tax credit that empowers families with funds to spend on private school tuition, online education programs, tutoring, curriculum, therapies, and other direct education needs of their children, while only 24% oppose. Additionally, the survey found that 53% of Americans believe that giving an income tax credit for education expenses to families would improve the nation’s overall education system, while only 15% believe it would weaken it—a significant 38 percentage-point disadvantage.
State-level findings from 2025 tell a similar story:
Oklahoma
A survey in Oklahoma of likely Republican primary voters from October found that two-thirds view the state’s refundable tax credit program favorably versus only 21% who view it unfavorably. On top of families who already use the program, 53% express interest in using it with one of their children. As such, there is tremendous support (64%) for removing the program’s cap so that all families and their children who would like to participate in the program to find the best education environment for them can. By nearly a 3:1 margin, likely GOP primary voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate for governor if the candidate supported removing the cap.
New Jersey
A September survey in New Jersey found that 58% of likely voters support the state establishing a refundable tax credit for families to use to offset education-related expenses for their children, twice as many as those who oppose (30%).
Idaho
In Idaho, a statewide survey from September found that 64% of voters approve of the state’s recently passed parental choice tax credit—more than twice as many (30%) who disapprove. More than three-quarters (77%) of K–12 parents expressed interest in participating in the new program, with 56% very interested. Idaho voters like the program because it gives families in the state more say in their children’s education by helping them tailor learning to the unique needs of each child. As such, almost half (45%) of voters would be less likely to vote for their local legislator if their legislator tried to get rid of the program.
Georgia
In July, a survey of likely Republican primary voters in Georgia found that nine-in-ten support the state making K–12 education more flexible for families. One flexible option with overwhelming support is the state’s current tax credit scholarship program, which enjoys the support of three-quarters of all GOP primary voters. Moreover, 65% believe the program should be expanded to all children rather than limited by prior public school attendance, and 76% believe the cap on donations should be removed so that all kids who could benefit from the program are able to apply and receive a scholarship.
Mississippi
A January survey in Mississippi found that 67% of Mississippi voters and 75% of likely Republican primary voters support a refundable income tax credit in the state, with 37% and 41%, respectively, strongly supporting it. Only 19% and 14% of each audience, respectively, oppose.
Kansas
A survey in Kansas in January found that 64% of registered voters already support the state’s current tax credit scholarship program, while 24% oppose it, and 63% support a new refundable income tax credit program, compared with 25% who oppose. Seven in ten K–12 parents in the state express interest in participating in a refundable income tax credit program with their children, with 35% very interested. Furthermore, a majority (52%) of voters statewide would be more likely to vote for their legislator if the legislator supported a refundable income tax credit (just 24% would be less likely).
