President Trump proclaimed May 2026 as National Foster Care Month and used the occasion to promote the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a policy he says will give children in foster care a more stable learning environment.
The administration notes that foster youth graduate at roughly one‑third the rate of their peers and that about a quarter end up incarcerated after leaving care. The tax credit, created under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, offers a dollar‑for‑dollar credit to donors who fund scholarship‑granting organizations. Those scholarships can cover private‑school tuition, after‑school programs, special‑education services, equipment or supplemental support at a public school, and they travel with the student whenever a placement changes—about one in three foster children moves each year.
Support from 27 governors across party lines suggests bipartisan backing. Officials argue that greater continuity will boost attendance, behavior and graduation rates, ultimately feeding a skilled workforce in sectors like healthcare and manufacturing. The Education Freedom Tax Credit is presented as a step toward a “Golden Age” where every child, regardless of circumstance, can access consistent, high‑quality education.
