As a lifelong resident of New Jersey, I've always taken great pride in our state's commitment to providing quality public education for all its residents. This collective effort supports not only the students but the broader community as well, fostering a well-rounded and informed citizenry. However, recent developments have raised serious concerns about the future of our public education system.

The Trump Administration's proposal for the Public Education Tax Credit program threatens to undermine the progress we've made by diverting crucial public funds to private and religious schools through tax credits. While this might seem like a positive development on the surface, it ultimately drains resources from public schools that rely on state funding to improve infrastructure, hire qualified teachers, and provide vital educational programs.

For a state like New Jersey, this program presents a real danger. Our diverse community thrives on inclusion and diversity, values that our public schools nurture. With 10% of New Jersey students already attending private schools, the implementation of this tax credit program would further widen the gap, funneling resources away from the vast majority of students who attend public schools.

Governor Mikie Sherrill holds a critical position in this decision. Her dedication to the community has been visible through her continued legislative efforts to uplift the state’s public education system. We must urge her to stand firm and reject this program for the sake of maintaining equitable public education across New Jersey.

Our public schools are the backbone of our communities. They are places where children from all walks of life come together to learn, grow, and build relationships that last a lifetime. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed in an environment that supports their needs and celebrates their differences. By opting out of this tax credit program, we can affirm our commitment to a fair and inclusive educational system.

It is extremely important that the state of New Jersey not opt into the program for 2027 as the regulations of the program issued by the federal government have not been finalized yet and based upon the initial regulations, these are the problems that are of great concern:

1. No requirement to prioritize the poorest children.
2. No required lottery or uniform scholarship-selection process.
3. Private-school-affiliated organizations may qualify as Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).
4. Minimal diversification rules allow scholarships to be concentrated at one school.
5. No comprehensive requirement that SGO boards be independent of participating schools.
6. No requirement for comparable public reporting of private-school academic outcomes.
7. No requirement that participating private schools administer New Jersey’s statewide assessments.
8. No requirement that private-school teachers meet public-school certification standards.
9. Different special-education entitlements for children voluntarily enrolled in private schools.
10. No automatic extension of New Jersey’s public-school anti-bullying protections.
11. Differences in LGBTQ and transgender protections, particularly at religious schools.
12. Insufficient public transparency about how much scholarship money reaches each school.
13. No assurance that disadvantaged families will receive most scholarships, alongside financial barriers for lower-income donors.
14. Scholarships may subsidize tuition for families already attending private schools.
15. Ordinary donors’ children are not automatically barred from receiving scholarships from the same SGO.
16. Dollar-for-dollar tax credits reduce federal revenue.
17. Participating private schools operate under substantially different accountability standards from public schools.
18. Potential future pressure on federal public-school funding and local property taxpayers, although such cuts are not automatic.
19. Unresolved questions about New Jersey’s authority to require stronger safeguards.Participation is determined annually. Declining for 2027 preserves New Jersey’s ability to reconsider in a later year after the final substantive regulations are issued and thoroughly reviewed.

I urge all New Jersey residents and advocates for public education to join me in sending a clear message to Governor Sherrill. Let's remind her of her role in protecting our public schools and ensuring our children have the best possible educational opportunities.

Please sign this petition to ask Governor Sherrill to reject the Trump Public Education Tax Credit program and preserve the integrity of New Jersey's public education system. Together, we can make a difference for future generations.

MICHAEL "MIKE" GOTTESMAN, ESQ. (RET.) (he/him, his)
Founder, New Jersey Public Education Coalition
Wayne, NJ 07474
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Engage parents, students, teachers, administrators, residents, taxpayers and other stakeholders in the battle we face in order to broaden and grow our power-base. Illuminate and illustrate why local school boards and school board elections are important.

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