With the dizzying moves in Washington and a case in the Supreme Court examining the constitutionality of religious charter schools on the horizon, not to mention the recent disappointing (“heartbreaking”) NAEP scores showing the further decline of our nation’s performance in reading and math, a critical moment for school choice is on the horizon.

The BASIC Fund has remained a fundamentally apolitical organization.  While publicly-funded school choice programs have surged across the country in recent years, we have spent the past 25+ years focused squarely on expanding opportunities and early educational access for families in the SF Bay Area. Now, a new opportunity is on the horizon.

The Educational Choice for Children Act which was reintroduced in Congress in January, would create a $10 billion federal tax credit for individuals and businesses who donate to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) like The BASIC Fund. Under the ECCA, donations to SGOs would be credited as a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to taxpayers, and would be converted into scholarships for tuition, tutoring, educational technology, and more, allowing families more autonomy over their education.

Passing the ECCA would change the trajectory of our work. As the largest still privately-funded Pre-K through 8th grade SGO in the country, we already support more than 3,000 families each year, but we have hundreds more on our wait-list.  These new funds could mean clearing that ever-growing wait-list, increasing the size of our scholarships, and potentially even expanding our geographic reach beyond the bay.

While the BASIC Fund is the only SGO of its kind in California, states that have passed similar bills have seen booms of newly-formed SGOs. With the possibility of available federal funding, we would expect the same in California. These new organizations might have the best of intentions but rushing to launch new operations can mean missteps that allow students and families to fall through the cracks.

The BASIC Fund’s 26+ years of work and more than 27,000 students funded paint a clearer picture. Our model works, our students succeed, and our donors know exactly where their funds go. The ECCA represents an enormous opportunity for students and families throughout California. The BASIC Fund is ready to help make their educational dreams a reality.