Bishop selects Scholarship Granting Organization as federal school choice program nears

Laura Keener

Editor

In an Oct. 15 press release, Bishop John Iffert announced the selection of American GOAL Scholarship Program as its Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) for the new federal scholarship tax program that will launch Jan. 1, 2027.

“With every state surrounding Kentucky offering school choice programs in some form, for years, Kentucky families could do little but watch as neighboring parents enjoyed the advantage of choosing the school that best met their child’s needs. We are grateful for this new opportunity to support Kentucky families seeking educational choice,” said Bishop John Iffert. “Partnering with American Goal will allow the Diocese of Covington to focus our local efforts on encouraging participation in the tax credit and generating the greatest possible benefit for students and families, while drawing on their extensive experience administering scholarship tax-credit programs.”

The federal scholarship tax credit program, known as The Education Freedom Tax Credit, provides individuals with a unique opportunity to support K-12 students while receiving a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 (or $3,400 for a married couple) for qualifying contributions to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations. SGOs are nonprofits that accept qualified contributions from individuals and use the funds to provide scholarships to students for education-related services, including tuition, fees, academic tutoring, extended day programs and supplies.

Through this program, donor contributions can help expand access to Catholic schools — funding scholarships for eligible students and families — directing dollars that would otherwise be paid in federal income taxes.

“Catholic education has a long and meaningful tradition in the Diocese of Covington, and we are committed to making it accessible for more families,” said Kendra McGuire, superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Covington. “Through our partnership with American GOAL and the opportunities made possible by scholarship tax credits, we look forward to a future in which Kentucky parents are not limited by financial circumstances when choosing the best fit for the education of their children.”

States surrounding Kentucky already offer some form of school choice program for private schools. Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship program launched in 2005, Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program began in 2011, West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship ESA program started in 2021, Tennessee’s ESA program for students with disabilities began in 2015; Missouri passed a school choice bill in 2021 and Virginia’s Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credit launched in 2013. After the failed “Yes On 2” amendment in 2022, it looked like Kentucky’s private schools would stand alone without school choice for its families. The Education Freedom Tax Credit offers hope.

In March 2026, Kentucky’s General Assembly overrode Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of a bill that would allow Kentucky to opt-in to the federal scholarship tax program. This paved the way for school choice for Kentucky families to become a reality. To ensure the state of Kentucky’s participation in the federal program, the state must opt into the program each year. Under Kentucky’s law, the Secretary of State bears the responsibility of submitting the approved list of local SGOs to the U.S. Treasury by the Jan. 1 deadline each year.

Through the program, scholarships are not just granted to private school families for tuition. Public school families can also apply for scholarships to help pay for academic tutoring, extended day programs and supplies. The goal of the scholarships to provide parents with funds to help support the eligible educational needs of their children.

American GOAL is modeled after the nationally recognized GOAL Scholarship Program in Georgia, which has successfully administered scholarship tax credit programs for more than 18 years. During that time, GOAL has received more than $558 million in tax-credit contributions and awarded more than 94,000 scholarships, helping thousands of families choose the K-12 educational environment that best meets their children’s needs.

As states prepare to implement the federal scholarship tax credit beginning January 1, 2027, American GOAL is partnering with Catholic dioceses, independent schools, and school associations to provide a proven, turnkey solution for administering the program while allowing schools to remain at the center of its fundraising and financial aid efforts.

“We are honored that the Diocese of Covington has chosen American GOAL as its Scholarship Granting Organization partner,” said Ben Saylor, president and CEO of GOAL Scholarship Program, Inc. “The Diocese has a strong commitment to providing students with a Christ-centered, academically excellent education, and we are excited to support that mission by helping more families access the educational opportunities that best meet their children’s needs through this historic new federal scholarship tax credit.”

Families, donors and schools interested in learning more about the federal scholarship tax credit and American GOAL may visit www.americangoal.org.