More than 1,100 students at St. Genevieve Parish Schools in Panorama City formed a mile-long human chain to pressure Governor Newsom to opt California into a federal tax credit scholarship program that could bring $4.9 billion in education funding to the state.
More than 1,100 students at St. Genevieve Parish Schools in Panorama City linked hands across a full mile of neighborhood streets on Tuesday. They were delivering 15,000 postcards with a single message for Governor Gavin Newsom: opt California into a federal education funding program, or watch billions walk away.
The demonstration, which students call "A Valiant Effort," was a direct appeal to the governor to participate in the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program, a newly enacted federal initiative that could bring an estimated $4.9 billion in education dollars to California beginning in 2027.
Students wore purple shirts reading "Governor Newsom, Say Yes to the FTCS" as they stretched block after block from their campus to the local post office. A police vehicle escorted the effort.
The first postcard traveled a symbolic route. It started in the hands of the school's youngest student, just three years old. It passed from child to child along the mile-long chain before reaching the school's oldest students. They delivered it directly to the local postmaster.
"It's a no brainer!" said Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado, on his decision to accept funding.
The Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025. Under the program, individual taxpayers can designate up to $1,700 of their federal tax liability to scholarship-granting organizations. Those organizations distribute scholarships to K-12 students whose household income is below 300% of their area's median income, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The scholarships can cover tuition, fees, books, tutoring, transportation, and technology resources for students at accredited schools.
The program does not redirect money from existing public school budgets. It is structured as a federal tax credit, creating additional education funding. Students at St. Genevieve say that misconception is one of the biggest obstacles to the program's acceptance.
Each governor must decide whether their state participates. So far, 31 states have agreed to join, including 26 Republican governors and five Democratic governors.
According to analysis from the America First Policy Institute, the 21 states that have not yet opted in stand to miss a collective $22.4 billion in scholarship contributions between 2027 and 2029. California alone could lose $4.91 billion.
The program allows any taxpayer in any state to receive the credit as long as they donate to a scholarship-granting organization in a participating state. If California declines, California taxpayers could still receive the tax credit by contributing to organizations in other states. The money would flow to students outside California instead.
Recent polling released by Democrats for Education Reform found that 59 percent of California voters support participation in the program. That includes 76 percent of Black voters and 68 percent of Latino voters.
Student leaders from St. Genevieve recently met in person with Brooks Allen, Governor Newsom's education policy advisor. According to the students, Allen encouraged them to "keep campaigning" as the administration continues studying the issue.
The effort has drawn support from national education leaders across the political spectrum, including Jorge Elorza, President of Democrats for Education Reform, and former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
The nationally known bluegrass-punk band Watertower joined students during the demonstration. The band filmed portions of a street music video alongside the mile-long human chain, students said. The collaboration was intended to bring additional energy and visibility to the campaign.
St. Genevieve students, known as the Valiants, are framing the effort as a growing grassroots movement. They are asking their neighbors to understand the program and to contact Governor Newsom's office before the state makes its final decision.
Source contact: Dan Horn, St. Genevieve Parish Schools, 818-894-6417
This article was generated with AI assistance.