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Joanna LeFebvre

@joannalefebvre.bsky.social
340 followers 190 following 48 posts

State fiscal policy nerd @centeronbudget.bsky.social, former teacher, @dukesanford.bsky.social and @washu.edu alum

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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Wesley Tharpe @wesleytharpe.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Yesterday, Missourians had the final say on one of the most important state policy debates this year: whether to eliminate their personal income tax, which funds two-thirds of their budget, while raising taxes on many working people. They voted it down. missouriindependent.com/2026/08/04/m...
missouriindependent.com
Missouri voters reject income tax phaseout, initiative petition changes • Missouri Independent
Missouri voters resoundingly rejected major Republican priorities on Tuesday as proposals to eliminate the income tax and change the way majorities are counted lost by large margins across the state.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
As local govts face fiscal pressure from huge SNAP & healthcare cuts in last year's reconciliation law, some states are cutting #propertytaxes - the main revenue source for 90% of local govts. Instead, states should target property tax breaks & fund rental assistance. www.cbpp.org/blog/more-st...
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Jeff Bryant @jeffbinnc.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
My new: "In what is being touted as the 'Golden Age of School Choice,' the option that is most popular with American families—to fund and attend their local public schools—is gradually being made less viable." www.nationofchange.org/2026/05/28/t...
nationofchange.org
The conservative ‘plan’ to dismantle public schools is entering the home stretch | NationofChange
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Lawmakers in other states should follow the lead of those in FL, GA, LA, MS, & SC who are reconsidering costly private #schoolvouchers as state budgets tighten. Lawmakers should reprioritize funding for public schools that serve 90% of this nation's students. www.cbpp.org/blog/as-budg...
cbpp.org
As Budgets Tighten, Some State Lawmakers Reconsider Costly Private School Vouchers
In the face of historic cuts to federal support for states, some state lawmakers are considering shifting spending priorities away from school voucher programs.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
And even in a tight budget year, lawmakers in SD & WV have expanded their school voucher programs that use public dollars to subsidize private tuition. Georgia took a different approach, reducing its school voucher budget by $41M. Others should follow suit. gbpi.org/sine-die-202...
gbpi.org
Sine Die 2026: Georgia Rejects Property Tax Caps and Adds Major Investments, Income Tax Package Threatens Outlook - Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
This blog was co-authored by Daniel Kanso, PhD; Leah Chan and Ashley Young Thursday, April 2, marked Sine Die in Georgia, the final day of the legislative session when both chambers of the state legis...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Property taxes fund essential local services like schools, fire departments, and libraries. Yet many states are seeking to cut and cap this revenue. For alternatives that promote equity without undermining communities, check out our blog: www.cbpp.org/blog/targete...
cbpp.org
Targeted Reforms Are the Best Way to Promote Property Tax Equity Without Harming Local Services
Local public services are cornerstones of our communities, ensuring that our children are educated, our communities are safe and healthy, and public spaces like parks and libraries can be enjoyed by.....
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
This #TaxDay, my colleague @WhitneyJemison outlines the harmful tax & budget choices some states have made, including cutting property taxes that fund local services & expanding costly school vouchers, as well as the brighter path other states are taking:
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Whitney Jemison @whitneyjemison.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
In MA, taxing the ultra-wealthy has delivered billions for education & transportation investments that are broadly shared. And revenues continue to outpace expectations as high earners: 1) stay put and 2) contribute more based on their rising incomes. www.mass.gov/info-details...
mass.gov
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities @centeronbudget.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
CBPP's @wesleytharpe.bsky.social, Clara Wilson, & @joannalefebvre.bsky.social sit down w/ Thomson Reuters on the double threat states are facing from federal cuts & their own policy choices threatening vital programs. The solution? Protecting & raising revenues tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/policy-...
tax.thomsonreuters.com
Policy Analysts Say OBBB Leaves State Budgeteers to Fend for Themselves
A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) finds that state and local policymakers face a "one-two punch" of new federal costs and self-imposed fiscal pressures that threaten ...
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Wesley Tharpe @wesleytharpe.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
New report: States & localities in '26 are facing a one-two punch—fallout from harmful federal actions on one hand & regressive state policies on the other. The path forward? Protecting & raising revenues to mitigate harm & build forward. Here’s how: www.cbpp.org/research/sta...
cbpp.org
Sound State Revenue Choices Essential to Counteract Harmful Policies and Build Forward
Last summer’s harmful Republican megabill paired enormous tax breaks for wealthy households and corporations with historically deep cuts that will take away people’s vital health care and food assista...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
"Breaking up the Department of Education and scattering its shards throughout the federal government isn’t reform. It’s disruption. And rural schools, tribal communities and vulnerable students will be the ones who pay the steepest price." www.the74million.org/article/frag...
the74million.org
Fragmenting the U.S. Department of Education Creates Chaos for Rural Students
Superintendent's view: Multiple lines of authority, blurred accountability and conflicting priorities will interrupt essential funding and services.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
"It is no surprise that early indications are that the Trump admin will stop governors who seek to craft programs that best fit the needs of their states & families. [This] would be a clear attempt to decimate public education in favor of private & religious schools." www.k12dive.com/news/protect...
k12dive.com
Private school choice threatens public school experiences, says EdTrust CEO
Public funding for students and schools must be protected to preserve equitable learning opportunities, Denise Forte writes.
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Education Law Center @edlawcenter.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
ELC Executive Director @bob-kim.bsky.social: States Should Reject Federal School Voucher Scheme progressive.org/op-eds/state...
progressive.org
States Should Reject Federal School Voucher Scheme
Vouchers hurt public schools and their students.
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Wesley Tharpe @wesleytharpe.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
New must-read from @propublica.org. More than half of states slashed income taxes in recent years, especially for the wealthy. Now that bill is coming due, right when harmful federal budget cuts are about to hit states too. Time to reverse course.
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Brendan Duke @brendanvduke.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
This past Friday, the Trump Administration made a choice to cut support for vital services people depend on like education funding for children with special needs, financial services in underserved communities, and public health readiness. 🧵
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Must read thread on new study showing school vouchers are spurring enrollment in small Christian private schools--the same schools that research suggests produce some of the poorest academic outcomes for students:
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
School districts can anticipate funding chaos in the coming months stemming from an unprecedented lack of enrollment data as students switch between private and public schools. As Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Pensacola) told @politico.com:
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Once again, Florida shows what’s waiting for other states that careen toward universal school vouchers: public schools that can’t pay teachers, school closures that dislocate communities, & budget woes from trying to fund two separate education systems. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
This special session, while thoughtful, was not the last word on property tax reform in DE. Lawmakers can do more to assist low-income renters & homeowners by creating circuit breaker credits that reduce their tax bills & improving administrative processes. www.cbpp.org/blog/targete...
cbpp.org
Targeted Reforms Are the Best Way to Promote Property Tax Equity Without Harming Local Services | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Local public services are cornerstones of our communities, ensuring that our children are educated, our communities are safe and healthy, and public spaces like parks and libraries can be enjoyed by.....
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
State legislators in 2023 also passed legislation mandating that reassessments occur every five years, helping to make sure this situation doesn’t happen again. However, ideally, reassessments should occur every 1 to 2 years. spotlightdelaware.org/2024/11/25/e...
spotlightdelaware.org
Delaware Explained: Property reassessment
Property reassessment notices have been scaring residents across Delaware, but the impact on tax rates has yet to be determined.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Since the last assessment in the ‘80s, taxable values in New Castle Cty quadrupled on average. But frequent assessments result in gradual changes in values & tax bills that reflect the true property value, making budgeting easier & fairer for homeowners. www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2...
delawareonline.com
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
The session was responding to New Castle County’s (DE’s largest county & home to Wilmington) first full reassessment in decades, where homeowners’ property tax bills increased dramatically due to home values increasing more rapidly than commercial property values.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
While property taxes fund impt services like schools, historically, high late payment penalties & predatory tax sales have stripped low-income families & communities of color of their wealth. DE’s reform is a step to prevent this history from reoccurring. itep.org/tax-history-...
itep.org
Tax History Matters: A Q&A with Professor Andrew Kahrl, Author of ‘The Black Tax’
In his new book, The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America, Professor Andrew Kahrl walks readers through the history of the property tax system and its structural d...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
One new law also gives homeowners more flexibility by allowing payment plans for bills increasing by $300 or more. It also suspends late payment penalties for homeowners on payment plans and substantially reduces these penalties for anyone not on payment plans. news.delaware.gov/2025/08/13/g...
news.delaware.gov
Governor Meyer, Legislature Deliver Property Tax Relief And Reform - State of Delaware News
DOVER — Last night, Governor Matt Meyer signed several bipartisan reforms to provide immediate relief to Delaware homeowners facing sharp property tax increases and to ensure fairness following the st...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
The state legislature passed laws last month that allow cities, counties, and school districts to set separate property tax rates for residential & commercial properties, helping them rebalance the scales and ensure that businesses are paying their fair share to support schools.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Delaware is protecting critical funding for services like public schools while more equitably distributing property tax responsibility among homeowners & businesses. Here’s what other states can learn from DE’s thoughtful approach to #PropertyTax reform from last month's special session. 🧵
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities @centeronbudget.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Kentucky’s Woodford County Public Schools, which serves middle-income families in rural communities outside of Lexington, may need a short-term payroll loan — a red flag for broader school finance instability in the state. More from @joannalefebvre.bsky.social: www.cbpp.org/research/sta...
cbpp.org
Tracking the Fallout From State Tax Cuts | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
States have gone on a tax-cutting spree in recent years. More than half have slashed income taxes for wealthy people and corporations, in some cases by extraordinary amounts. Communities are starting ...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Wyoming Passes 25% Property Tax Cut for Homeowners — Without Replacing Lost Revenue for Local Services: "As a result, local officials are having to cut their budgets by up to 23 percent, and the state is now facing a $686 million school funding deficit by 2030." www.cbpp.org/research/sta...
cbpp.org
Tracking the Fallout From State Tax Cuts | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
States have gone on a tax-cutting spree in recent years. More than half have slashed income taxes for wealthy people and corporations, in some cases by extraordinary amounts. Communities are starting ...
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Whitney Jemison @whitneyjemison.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
States are increasingly calling for special sessions this year, and it’s not just routine business. From addressing the impact of federal policy, to state tax debates, to shoring up disaster aid and political power plays, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of legislative overtime.🧵
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Save Our Schools Arizona @sosarizona.org · 10/07/2025
🚨 BREAKING: A shocking $440M in unused ESA voucher funds are sitting in bank accounts — while AZ's public schools are left under-resourced and struggling. This hoarding of taxpayer dollars by mostly wealthy families hurts public school students who go without needed supports 😠
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Zahava Stadler @zahavastadler.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Yesterday, I shared my @educationwork.newamerica.org team's district impact analysis of the $6+ billion that the Trump admin is refusing to disburse to schools (link in 2nd post). Now, @edweek.org has published our funding figures for ALL districts in the US for which we have data. Search for yours↓
edweek.org
See How Much Federal Money Trump Is Holding Back From Your District
Hundreds of districts will lose more than $1 million each, according to a new analysis.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
"Eight states—AL, AZ, FL, GA, ID, IN, NE and NC—saw their real per-pupil education expenditures decline even while their per capita GDP went up. These eight states had the capacity to expand educational opportunities for their state’s children but have gone in the opposite direction instead."
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
New analysis from @itep.org: if only 25% of eligible tax filers were to claim the school voucher tax credit in the Senate's reconciliation bill, federal revenue would be reduced by over $25 billion per year - far more than previous versions. itep.org/trump-megabi...
itep.org
Senate Megabill Takes Cap Off Unprecedented Private School Voucher Tax Credit, Potentially Raising Cost by Tens of Billions Relative to House Version
The tax and spending legislation approved by the U.S. Senate would create an unprecedented, dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit designed to support private school vouchers. This tax credit has the po...
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Shelby Gonzales @shelbytgonzales.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Make no mistake-- today’s Supreme Court ruling does not end constitutionally guaranteed birthright citizenship. However, the SCOTUS has ruled against the injunctions that have been blocking The Trump Administration’s birthright citizenship EO from being implemented nationwide.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Instead of using a tax shelter for the wealthy to weaken the public schools that serve 90% of kids, lawmakers should invest in students and take us one step closer to the promise of an excellent public education for every child.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
See this piece from @npr.org for a deeper dive into 9 things to know about the federal school voucher proposal: www.npr.org/2025/05/23/n...
npr.org
9 things to know about the big, private-school voucher plan in Republicans' tax bill
NPR asked researchers, advocates, tax experts, a parent and a public school leader for their thoughts on this first-of-its-kind national voucher plan. Here's what they said.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Vouchers are often unpopular, incl. in red states, b/c voters prefer to spend public $ on public schools: Kentucky voters rejected a ballot measure last fall in all 120 counties that would have amended the KY constitution to allow school vouchers. @kypolicy.bsky.social kypolicy.org/kentucky-vot...
kypolicy.org
Kentucky Voters Buried Private School Vouchers. One More Idea Must Die to Truly Reinvest in Our Public Schools - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
Kentucky can't truly reinvest in our public schools unless lawmakers abandon the goal of eliminating the state's income tax.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Experts at @floridapolicy.bsky.social warn a federal voucher cld explode in cost over time if expanded, as happened in Florida. FL’s vouchers now eat up more than 25% of the state’s K-12 budget, w/ most $$ subsidizing students who already attended private school www.floridapolicy.org/posts/federa...
floridapolicy.org
Federal Voucher System — Like Florida’s — Would Divert Funding to Private Schools and Home-Schoolers
Florida has lessons to offer about vouchers.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
The House’s national school voucher would reduce federal revenue by about $20B per Congress's JCT and state revenue by over $450M per @itep.org. Costs would increase if extended beyond 2029 like the Senate version or if the program expands as they have in many states. itep.org/house-tax-bi...
itep.org
House Tax Bill Enlists the Wealthy to Spread Private School Vouchers
The House tax plan cuts charitable giving tax incentives for donors to most nonprofit groups while roughly tripling the incentive available to donors to groups that fund private K-12 school vouchers. ...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
As CBPP's Samantha Jacoby explains, the school vouchers would be funded with a $1 for $1 tax break for contributions to voucher-bundling orgs—more generous than any other charitable deduction. And those who give stock would benefit from an egregious capital gains tax shelter. x.com/jacsamoby/st...
x.com
Samantha Jacoby on X: "House Rs’ tax bill includes a new federal tax credit to subsidize private school vouchers — effectively the first nationwide voucher program. Plus, it’s structured as a costly tax break for the wealthy w/an egregious capital gains tax loophole. It should be rejected." / X
House Rs’ tax bill includes a new federal tax credit to subsidize private school vouchers — effectively the first nationwide voucher program. Plus, it’s structured as a costly tax break for the wealthy w/an egregious capital gains tax loophole. It should be rejected.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
A national voucher could incentivize students to leave public schools, shortchanging remaining students by leaving fewer dollars for costs like books & teachers because a higher proportion of funding wld be needed to cover fixed costs like heating & maintenance. @epi.org www.epi.org/publication/...
epi.org
How vouchers harm public schools: Calculating the cost of voucher programs to public school districts
Overview What this report is about Voucher programs for schools are rapidly expanding across the country. Under these programs, public budgets provide funding to parents to either send their children ...
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
The national school voucher proposal in the Senate GOP reconciliation plan would threaten students’ access to quality public schools, give tax breaks to the wealthy, & override states that have rejected these harmful policies. Lawmakers who care about our kids’ futures should reject it.
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Wesley Tharpe @wesleytharpe.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Public education would be at especially high risk, given that it makes up the largest share of state budgets. For context: just the potential cost of the proposed 5% minimum SNAP match is the equivalent of average salary costs for about 65K public school teachers nationwide.
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Wesley Tharpe @wesleytharpe.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
NEW REPORT: House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, now in the Senate, would shift major new costs to the state- & local-level, paving the way for harmful cuts to food assistance, health care, & other services like education. Here’s the 3 top things to know:🧵
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Sharon Parrott @sharonparrott.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Rather than course correct, Senate Republican leaders are rushing to advance a bill that is in some ways even more destructive and harmful than the unpopular House Republican bill. The Senate must reject it.
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Wesley Tharpe @wesleytharpe.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
House Republicans’ new budget bills promise widespread harm to people & communities in every state across the U.S. One way they seek to hide these harmful impacts is by slashing federal funding & then passing the buck to state & local gov’ts to make the toughest choices & cuts.🧵
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Reposted by Joanna LeFebvre
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities @centeronbudget.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
CBPP's Samantha Jacoby posted on X explaining how the House Republican tax bill's new federal tax credit to subsidize private school vouchers works: x.com/jacsamoby/st...
Samantha Jacoby on X: House Rs’ tax bill includes a new federal tax credit to subsidize private school vouchers — effectively the first nationwide voucher program. Plus, it’s structured as a costly tax break for the wealthy w/an egregious capital gains tax loophole. It should be rejected.
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
This is yet another example of this Admin’s neglect of resources for public school students and another reason why states should raise revenue for education rather than cut it. www.cbpp.org/blog/states-...
cbpp.org
States Should Bolster, Not Undermine, Education Gains Made with ESSER Funds | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
An unprecedented $190 billion federal investment in education during the COVID-19 pandemic improved academic achievement and prevented potentially catastrophic social and educational losses for many.....
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Joanna LeFebvre @joannalefebvre.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
#ESSER mitigated pandemic learning loss. The most vulnerable students are still recovering, but now Dept. of Ed is clawing back billions already obligated to investments like tutoring and healthy learning environments, jeopardizing ongoing academic recovery. www.the74million.org/article/clos...
the74million.org
Close to $3 Billion in Relief Funds in Jeopardy as Ed Dept. Halts Payments
Officials labeled even extensions agreed upon during Trump’s tenure ‘unreasonable’ and cited what it called examples of ‘misuse.’
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KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Why we need the US Dept. Of Education.
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