Representatives Kiley, Tenney Introduce the High-Quality Charter Schools Act to Boost School Choice

WASHINGTON – Today Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) joined Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Burgess Owens (R-UT), in introducing the High-Quality Charter Schools Act to expand school choice by creating a new tax credit for charitable contributions to nonprofit charter school organizations.

The demand for high-quality charter schools continues to outpace supply, in part due to the high start-up costs of opening a new school, which can be up to $20 million. This legislation would establish a 75% federal tax credit for qualified charitable contributions made to nonprofit charter school organizations with a proven record of success, incentivizing donations to support the development of more high-quality charter schools. To receive contributions, each eligible organization must establish a separate qualified account to use eligible funds exclusively for charter school expansion within five years of receipt, and must also conduct annual independent, certified financial and compliance audits.

CLICK HERE to view Rep. Kiley’s remarks on the bill.

“Charter schools have a proven track record of success, working to ensure every student, regardless of zip code, is given the opportunity to succeed. The High-Quality Charter Schools Act provides a tax credit for charitable donations that will develop and expand the number of charter schools to provide even more students access to affordable school choice options. In fact, this legislation could lead to nearly tripling the number of children who have the option of attending a charter school. Parents know what is best for their children, and by providing parents with options, we can improve educational outcomes across our country,” said Rep. Tenney. 

“As a former high school teacher, I understand the important role education plays in our children’s future and the importance of charter school options. The High-Quality Charter Schools Act is a critical measure to expand educational opportunity, uphold rigorous accountability, and foster innovation within our public school system. By supporting this legislation, we are investing in a future where all students can access a high-quality education,” said Rep. Kiley.

 “School choice is the civil rights issue of our time, and our nation’s future will be determined by whether we win the fight to ensure that every child—no matter their ZIP code—has access to high-quality education. The High-Quality Charter Schools Act will help us reach that bright future, with up to $5 billion a year in tax-credit-driven investment that could help open more than 15,000 new charter schools and unlock life-changing opportunities for millions of students across the country,” said Rep. Owens.

“Charter schools across the country, especially here in New York, are facing demand that far exceeds their capacity. I’m proud to join Rep. Tenney in introducing this legislation to ensure students and families have greater access to the school of their choice—while also ensuring taxpayers see a strong return on investment in public education,” said Rep. Malliotakis.

“This legislation complements the Education Choice for Children Act, which will provide tax credits for contributions for tuition vouchers and which I strongly support,” said Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools. “Together, these policies will demonstrate universal school choice as a national priority. Americans overwhelmingly support school choice but many elected officials have been intimidated by those who seek to preserve the broken status quo. I commend Representatives Tenney, Malliotakis, Owens and Kiley for standing up to the special interests and putting America’s parents first. This is what real leadership looks like.”

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