Wells Winegar is executive director of the New Jersey Policy Institute, and Ashley Smith is managing director of Jersey 1st. This was first published in USA Today.

Recently, Gov. Mikie Sherrill highlighted her proposal to double state funding for high impact tutoring, bringing total investment to $15 million and expanding access to nearly 100 additional school districts. The results she cited are impressive. In communities across New Jersey, students receiving targeted tutoring support have demonstrated significant gains in reading and math achievement.

As Sherrill noted, strong academic foundations set children up for lifelong success. Every student deserves access to the tools and resources that help them reach their full potential. High impact tutoring is proving to be one of those tools.

New Jersey has an opportunity to think even bigger and put more resources into high impact tutoring by allowing our state to opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. By opting in, Sherrill can direct more resources to our students with the greatest needs, regardless of whether they are attending public, private or religious schools.  

NY opts into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. NJ should, too

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent announcement that New York is set to opt-in to this program is a significant development. When finalized, it would make New York the second Democratic-led state to take this step, following Gov. Jared Polis in Colorado.

That matters.

It reinforces what has become increasingly clear: expanding educational opportunity is not a partisan idea. It is a practical one that is gaining traction across the country. To date, 30 states have acted to opt-in and as more governors move to expand access to educational resources, the pressure is building on states that have yet to act.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit allows individuals to receive a federal tax credit for donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations, or SGOs. Those organizations can then provide students with support for a range of educational needs, including tutoring, transportation, tuition and enrichment programs at public, private and religious schools. Governors must opt in for their state’s students to benefit.

What does this mean for New Jersey?

For states like New Jersey, the implications are clear.

At a time when school budgets are tighter than ever and districts are being asked to do more with less, this program offers a rare opportunity to expand resources for students without placing any additional burden on the state budget. This is not a state spending program. It is federally-driven and privately funded.

That means New Jersey families could benefit from new educational supports while taxpayers see no increase in state costs.

And critically, those benefits are not limited to one type of student or one type of school.

Public school students stand to gain in meaningful ways. Access to high-quality tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enrichment opportunities can help close learning gaps, accelerate achievement, and provide individualized support that schools often struggle to deliver at scale. These are exactly the kinds of investments that policymakers, including Governor Mikie Sherrill, have identified as priorities in recent budget discussions.

If neighboring states move forward while New Jersey hesitates, there is also a very real risk that New Jerseyans will subsidize opportunity elsewhere. Under the law, Taxpayers here in New Jersey could claim the federal credit if they donate to a program that ultimately support students in other states that have opted in. That is a missed opportunity we cannot afford.

Of course, as with any new federal program, details matter. States should want the program implemented in a way that protects students and aligns with local priorities, and the Garden State should be no different. But that is a reason to engage, not to sit on the sidelines.

New Jersey needs to opt in now

New Jersey should follow suit.

This is not about replacing public education. It’s about strengthening it by expanding the tools and resources available to students and families. It’s about recognizing that in today’s world, learning does not happen in just one place, and students benefit from a broader ecosystem of support.

Most of all, it is about ensuring that New Jersey remains a place where opportunity grows, not one where it is constrained by inaction.

New York is moving. Other states are watching. The question now is whether New Jersey will lead, or be left behind.