In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, hosts Ben DeGrow, ExcelinEd senior policy director of education choice, and Abby Burrola, ExcelinEd associate director of education choice policy, sit down with Luke Ragland, Daniels Fund Chief Impact Officer and former president of Ready Colorado, to explore how states can put the new federal scholarship tax credit program into action. Ragland breaks down the basic parameters of the 2025 federal law and recent guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department, including what states need to consider as they decide whether to participate and establish certification processes for scholarship-granting organizations.
The conversation takes a closer look at the state-level infrastructure needed to make the program work effectively, from building scholarship-granting organization capacity to establishing appropriate oversight and ensuring fiscal integrity. Ragland also explores how states can design implementation to serve students across public and private education, expand access to greater educational opportunity and integrate federal tax-credit donations with existing programs, such as education savings accounts and state tax-credit scholarships. The discussion offers practical considerations for state leaders navigating a new federal opportunity while building on the choice programs already serving families.
For policymakers, educators and advocates, the episode highlights an important opportunity: effective implementation will depend not only on making the federal tax credit available, but on creating the state systems, safeguards and partnerships needed to ensure scholarship dollars reach students and expand meaningful educational options.
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