By Angela “Angie” Schiller, Head of School, Redeemer Lutheran School, Austin, Texas
For years, families across the country have sought greater access to educational options that best meet the needs of their children. The inclusion of a federal Scholarship Granting Organization program in the One Big Beautiful Bill represents a significant step forward in expanding those opportunities.
What makes this new program particularly exciting is that it gives individual taxpayers a new way to support scholarships that help students access educational environments where they can thrive. Through qualifying cash contributions to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization, donors may be able to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit, up to the annual limit, while helping families pursue educational options that align with their values, goals, and children’s unique needs.
This isn’t simply a traditional charitable deduction. It’s a federal tax credit opportunity tied specifically to scholarship giving through approved SGOs. That distinction matters, because it gives donors a meaningful way to connect generosity, stewardship, and educational access.
I Have Seen This Work: Lessons from Arizona
Before coming to Texas, I spent many years serving Lutheran schools in Arizona, a state that has long been a national leader in scholarship tax credit programs. During my time there, I witnessed firsthand the transformational impact these programs had on students, families, and schools.
Arizona’s scholarship organizations created opportunities for families who might never have considered a private Christian education because of financial barriers. I met parents who sacrificed greatly to provide the best educational experience for their children, and I saw how scholarship assistance opened opportunities that once seemed impossible. These programs strengthened educational choice while fostering a spirit of generosity and community investment.
The lesson from Arizona is clear: when parents have access to scholarship opportunities, they use them wisely and faithfully. As educators, we know that no single educational model is the perfect fit for every child. Parents know their children best, and they deserve the opportunity to pursue learning environments that support their child’s academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth.
In many ways, the federal SGO program reflects what I saw work so well in Arizona, but with the potential to reach families on a much broader scale. That should give all of us a great deal of hope.
Redeemer Lutheran School and Legacy Deo: Putting This into Practice
Today, as Head of School at Redeemer Lutheran School in Austin, I am encouraged by the possibilities this federal tax credit may create for families across Texas and throughout the nation. At Redeemer, we believe every child deserves an education that nurtures both the mind and the heart, preparing them for a life of purpose and service.
For our school, this program has the potential to be a tremendous blessing. Redeemer already provides scholarship assistance to families, but our resources are limited. While our scholarship dollars help families, they also affect the school’s ability to invest in other important needs such as technology, security, classroom resources, student support, and the long-term health of our ministry.
A strong SGO partnership can help us do more, funding scholarships for families who need assistance while allowing Redeemer to continue investing in the people, programs, and resources that make our school strong.
What This Means for Families and Donors
One of the most encouraging parts of this opportunity is that it helps connect families, schools, and donors in a shared mission.
When people understand that they can use a portion of their tax liability in a way that supports children and Christian education, they are often eager to participate. In that sense, the federal SGO program is more than a policy change. It’s an opportunity to expand access, strengthen families, and invest in the future of our communities.
Having seen the success of scholarship programs in Arizona, I am hopeful about what lies ahead and grateful for partners like Legacy Deo who are helping make that vision a reality.
The future of education is strongest when families have meaningful choices, communities invest in students, and schools work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. At Redeemer Lutheran School, we are excited about what this could mean for our families, our school, and the students God will continue to bring through our doors.