By

Ballotpedia staff

Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy. 

In today’s edition, you’ll find:

  • On the issues: The debate over religious charter schools  
  • In your district: Improving low-performing schools
  • School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications
  • What to know about the proposed federal school choice tax credit bill
  • Extracurricular: education news and numbers from around the web
  • Candidate Connection survey

Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas!

On the issues: The debate over religious charter schools

In this section, we curate reporting, analysis, and commentary on the issues school board members deliberate when they set out to offer the best education possible in their district. Missed an issue? Click here to see the previous education debates we’ve covered.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 30 in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. The case concerns whether Oklahoma can authorize St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School as a charter school. St. Isidore’s curriculum is based explicitly on Catholic teachings. The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the school’s application in 2023, but the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 6-2 in 2024 that a religious charter school violates the state constitution. 

We provided a deep dive into the case in Hall Pass on April 23. Click to read that edition. 

What are the arguments?

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) writes that approving the Catholic charter school would force the state to fund religious charters of all types, including extreme ones. He says families should be free to choose private religious education options but says taxpayer-funded religious charters would hurt religious freedom. 

Archbishop Paul Coakley and Bishop David Konderla write families should have the option to choose religious education through public programs. They say since charter schools are privately administered, the private citizens running the schools should be able to help families who want a religious education but cannot access one. 

Read on

Drummond: Allowing St. Isidore school would threaten religious liberty | Opinion | Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, The Oklahoman

“While many Oklahomans undoubtedly would support charter schools sponsored by various Christian faiths, the precedent created by approval of a Catholic charter school will compel approval of similar applications by all faiths. As a committed Christian, the last thing I want is for my tax dollars to fund the indoctrination of arguably extreme or fringe religions that most Oklahomans and I would find objectionable or even offensive. That scenario is an inevitability, not hyperbole. And make no mistake: The threat this poses to our religious liberty is grave. Religious liberty means every citizen is free to worship as he or she believes. Religious liberty does not mean the government should fund religious teachings. To avoid any confusion, I am very supportive of private religious schools. I sent my own children to a private Christian school for high school. Every family should be free to choose private religious education.”

Why we favor state funding of a Catholic charter school | Opinion | Abp. Paul S. Coakley and Bp. David A. Konderla, The Oklahoman

“Despite what you may have heard, this is not about what the state of Oklahoma may teach in schools it actually runs. It is also not about whether children in Oklahoma can be required to attend schools that profess religious beliefs with which they disagree. Instead, it’s about allowing private educators to help address a growing need for educational choice in Oklahoma, particularly for families in underserved communities or children with unique learning needs. … The decision to create St. Isidore stemmed from a desire to join these schools to bring an additional option, especially for families who desire Catholic education but lacked the resources or access to one. Not everyone desires a Catholic education or a virtual one. Yet there are many, from all walks of life and all beliefs, who do. And that opportunity should not be taken from those families for whom a school like St. Isidore is the right fit.”

In your district: Improving low-performing schools

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What strategies should districts use to turn around low-performing schools?

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You can read our previous reader surveys and responses here. 

School board update: filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications

In 2025, Ballotpedia will cover elections for more than 30,000 school board seats. We’re expanding our coverage each year with our eye on covering the country’s more than 80,000 school board seats.

Upcoming school board elections

Click here to learn more about this year’s school board elections. 

What to know about the proposed federal school choice tax credit bill

On May 14, the House Ways and Means Committee included language establishing a private school choice tax credit policy in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Republican budget reconciliation bill. The tax credit measure, called the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), would be the first nationwide private school choice policy, providing families in all 50 states with federal funding for private school tuition, tutoring, and other expenses. 

The House Budget Committee voted 21-16 against advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on May 16. However, on May 18, the Committee voted 17-16 to advance the bill after four Republicans—Reps. Chip Roy (Texas), Josh Brecheen (Okla.), Rep. Andrew Clyde (Ga.), and Rep. Ralph Norman (S.C.)—changed their “no” votes to “present.” 

President Donald Trump (R) campaigned on expanding private school choice, saying U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, would “fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America.” 

Here’s what to know about the ECCA.

The details

  • Under the policy, donors could lower their tax liability by $1 for every $1 donated to accredited Scholarship-Granting Organizations (SGOs). Individuals could receive a credit up to 10% of their adjusted gross income or $5,000. The SGOs would distribute the scholarships to eligible students. 
  • The total amount of credits would initially be capped at $5 billion through 2029, but could grow up to 5% annually after that. 
  • The scholarships, worth up to $5,000 per student, would be available to families making 300% of the median income in the region. The scholarships could be used to pay private school tuition, hire tutors, and purchase textbooks and other supplies. The scholarships would be available to homeschooling families. 
  • Participating private schools must provide accommodations to students with disabilities. 

U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah) introduced H.R. 833, otherwise known as the ECCA, in the House on Jan. 31. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. In March, Owens discussed passing the Act through budget reconciliation, a process that allows Congress to pass legislation that changes spending, revenues, or the debt limit with a simple 51-vote majority in the U.S. Senate, as opposed to the usual 60-vote threshold.  

Cassidy said, “For years I’ve advocated for school choice with my Educational Choice for Children Act. I am pleased to see it included in the big, beautiful bill. Expanding President Trump’s tax cuts is about preserving the American dream. Giving parents the ability to choose the best education for their child makes the dream possible.”

The ECCA included in the reconciliation package is different in a few respects from the original House bill. For example, when it was first introduced in January, H.R. 833 capped the amount of tax credits at $10 billion and did not include protections for students with disabilities. The original bill also allowed corporations to donate and receive the tax credit.   

The debate

If implemented, the $5 billion tax credit program would represent one of the largest federal fiscal commitments to K-12 education. In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Department of Education spent roughly $50 billion on K-12 education. The two largest federal K-12 education programs were Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which cost $18 billion and $16 billion, respectively. 

Supporters of state-based private school choice programs—such as vouchers, education savings accounts (ESA), and tax credit policies—have generally supported the ECCA. However, some private school choice supporters have opposed it on the grounds that it represents an unnecessary expansion of the federal government’s role in K-12 education. 

  • The American Federation for Children (AFC), an organization that lobbies for private school choice initiatives, said: “We need school choice in every state, which is what the ECCA would ensure.” AFC also said the Act “has no role for the U.S. Department of Education and contains no federal mandates on states, school districts, schools or homeschool families.” The AFC said that in states with existing private school choice programs, the ECCA scholarships could be added to the state awards to increase the amount families receive for private educational expenses. 
  • The Goldwater Institute, an Arizona-based think tank that helped craft the nation’s first universal school choice program, has cautioned lawmakers against implementing the ECCA, stating lawmakers “have admirably worked to craft buffers against federal meddling. Still, just as Congress is looking to enact the ECCA with a simple majority vote using the budget reconciliation process, a pro-teachers union administration and Congress will just as easily alter those provisions to pile on a wish list of leftist controls.”

Critics of private school choice policies at the state level have also been critical of the ECCA, saying it is a tax break for the wealthy that will disproportionately benefit affluent families and disadvantage rural students.

  • Edtrust, a research organization that says it fights for policies that advance equity in schools, said: “Congress is considering passing ECCA while simultaneously weighing proposals to cut Medicaid, SNAP, Pell Grants, and other programs. If Congress passes ECCA and these cuts to critical services, they make their priorities clear. They would rather provide tax breaks to the wealthy and divert public funds to private institutions than fund public programs and services vital to our communities.”
  • Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), said, “The research shows that vouchers hurt student achievement, go 70 percent to families with kids already in private school, and that private schools then increase tuition in response.” The AFT is the second largest teachers union in the country, after the National Education Association (NEA). 

What comes next

  • As of this writing, the House Rules Committee had been debating changes to the 1,116 page One Big Beautiful Bill Act since 1 a.m. this morning. The Committee will need to give final approval to the bill before it reaches the floor.  
  • Republicans have a 220-213 majority in the U.S. House (with two vacancies). The bill needs 218 votes to pass. 
  • Speaker Mike Johnson (La.-R) said he was pushing for the House to vote on the bill before Memorial Day, on May 26. The U.S. Senate would then consider the bill.
  • In addition to the ECCA, the House version of the reconciliation bill addresses border, defense, energy spending, Medicaid, food stamps, and tax policy, among other subjects. Republicans have been divided on different aspects of the bill. Trump met with lawmakers Tuesday, urging them to set aside differences and pass it. 

Click here to learn more about private school choice policies in the 50 states. Additionally, Ballotpedia has created a comprehensive resource on the effect private school choice has on rural districts. 

You can find more information on the budget reconciliation process here. 

Extracurricular: education news from around the web

This section contains links to recent education-related articles from around the internet. If you know of a story we should be reading, reply to this email to share it with us! 

Take our Candidate Connection survey to reach voters in your district

Today, we’re looking at survey responses from Syed Qasim and Erin Hatch, the two candidates who ran in the May 20 election for Zone 5 on the Beaverton School District school board. According to unofficial results, Hatch was leading Qasim 51-49%. 

Four seats on the seven-member board were up for election this year. The Beaverton School District, located just west of Portland, is the third-largest in Oregon, with roughly 38,000 students.

Here’s how Qasim answered the question, “What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?” 

  • “Access, Transparency & Accountability
    -Strengthen communication to include community members at large for access to the Board and District. -Increase transparency in decision-making to ensure accountability.
    -Collaborate with parents, educators, community members and district leaders for informed policymaking.
  • Safe, Inclusive, Climate-Resilient Schools -Protect immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and other vulnerable students. 
    -Advocate for restorative justice practices that encourage thoughtful dialogue around conflict and bullying. 
    -Equip students & community to lead in the fight against climate change.
  • Ensure Conditions for Success 
    -Prioritize full funding and resources for schools and staff.
    -Set clear benchmarks to drive progress towards the District’s strategic goals. 
    -Align policies with advancements in Generative AI to enhance education.”

Click here to see the rest of Qasim’s responses. 

Here’s how Hatch answered the question, “What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?” 

  • “Students First: I am committed to making students the top priority in all policy and budget decisions. Every child deserves an environment where they can thrive academically and socially. By focusing on what’s best for students, we can ensure they have the resources, support, and opportunities to succeed. My goal is to advocate for policies that directly benefit our children and their future.
  • Trust and Collaboration: I believe in the power of collaboration between schools, families, and the community. With open communication and collaboration, we can create a supportive environment for every student’s growth. I will work to ensure that all voices are heard and that we build trust through transparency, teamwork, and shared goals. Together, we can create an education system that works and shows real results in student success.
  • Fiscal Responsibility: I am committed to the wise use of taxpayer dollars, ensuring that every dollar spent in the Beaverton School District is used efficiently and effectively. I will work to align the district’s budget with our values and the needs of our community, while also ensuring our spending results in measurable student success. By promoting accountability and transparency in all financial decisions, we can prioritize funding that directly benefits students and improves our schools.”

Click here to read the rest of Hatch’s responses. 

If you’re a school board candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey.