Hicksville school board optimistic about scholarship program offering benefits for students, tax breaks for donors

Members of the Hicksville Board of Education expressed optimism about a forthcoming Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) program at the board’s meeting on Wednesday Oct. 21. Under the federal program, which Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced the state intends to join starting Jan. 1, 2027, residents can donate money to approved scholarship organizations and receive federal tax credits. Board members also discussed efforts to gain greater oversight of district funding for local charter schools. Under the program, SGOs can collect charitable contributions from individuals or corporations and use the funds for K–12 scholarships or educational expenses. Individual donors can receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for qualifying contributions, and married couples filing jointly can claim up to $3,400. “It’s a benefit for our taxpayers for a tax break while giving back to the school district, and also for our staff members to be able to give back to the students the