Should Mass. join the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program? Why a teachers union says no.

A Massachusetts teachers union is calling on Gov. Maura Healey to opt out of the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. Supporters argue this credit will help kids and cost the state nothing.

Friday was a busy day at the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. From backpack giveaways to free lunches, kids are gearing up for the new school year to begin.  

One subject top of mind for administrators and staff is the new scholarship tax program, also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit. It allows individuals to donate up to $1,700 a year to approved nonprofit Scholarship Granting Organizations in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.

Supporters say the funds are distributed as scholarships for K-12 public and private schools, to help with tuition, tutoring, after-school programs, field trips, special education services, art and music programs and more.

Saaran Sillah is director of academic success at the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. "It's able to enhance our programming, so our literacy, our writing, our STEAM, our power hour and our tutoring program," she said. "It allows us to expand our resources."

But opponents of the program say it will benefit only a few and could reduce public education infrastructure by as much as 12%.

"It will affect rural communities, rural schools, lead to school closures and take away the wraparound services that disadvantaged students need in our urban districts as well," said Matt Bach, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.   

Boys and Girls Club of Boston CEO Robert Lewis says the Education Freedom Tax Credit would greatly enhance their tutoring and after school programs.   

"Having access to more individualized support is important for us here," Sillah said. "Making sure we are not just supporting them for one year, but we are making sure that we have the academic pipeline so that we are supporting them through every stage of their educational training."

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey must choose whether to opt in before Jan. 1.

"On that program, we are waiting for federal guidance on that. Some more has got to come out so we'll take a look at that," Gov. Healey said.

Former Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeff Riley says the program will benefit those students and families who are underserved. "This is a voluntary private charitable contribution made by individuals giving everyday citizens the freedom to direct their own tax money into scholarships instead of sending it to Washington," he said.