California students launch push for 1 million postcards backing education tax credit

St. Genevieve Parish Schools students are expanding a postcard campaign statewide to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to opt California into the Education Freedom Tax Credit. The effort aims to unite families from public, charter and private schools ahead of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5.

Why it matters: - The student-led campaign is trying to influence whether California joins the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, a move the students argue could direct new education dollars to California families instead of other states. - The effort targets public, charter and private school communities, not just private-school families. - Supporters say the program can help pay for tutoring, after-school and summer programs, educational technology and services for students with disabilities and other needs.

What happened: - St. Genevieve Parish Schools students are taking their “A Valiant Effort” campaign statewide and asking schools across California to help send 1 million postcards to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 5, World Teachers’ Day. - The students presented the plan to California Catholic school superintendents during a two-day fall meeting in Monterey. - The students joined that meeting by Zoom and saw the superintendents wearing purple campaign shirts that read: “Governor Newsom — Say YES to the EFTC.” - The campaign started at St. Genevieve and has now expanded into a broader coalition of education advocates.

The details: - St. Genevieve students created the campaign through their Leadership and Advocacy course, offered with Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. - In May, the students mailed 15,000 purple postcards to Newsom asking California to opt into the EFTC. - The students asked each diocese to spread the campaign by educating communities, distributing postcards, encouraging families to participate and inviting other schools to join. - The students said many leaders they meet still do not know the EFTC exists or how large the funding opportunity could be for California families. - The students also said some critics mistakenly view the program as a private-school tuition subsidy or a threat to public schools. - The students said taxpayers cannot earmark contributions for individual students, but donors may designate a participating school or school district to support. - In April, four students met in Sacramento with Brooks Allen, Gov. Newsom’s education advisor, for what was supposed to be a 30-minute meeting. - That meeting lasted more than an hour, and Allen told the students no decision had been made while the administration continued studying the program as federal guidance developed. - The students have also worked with Jorge Elorza, CEO of Democrats for Education Reform, and invited former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to join the discussion. - Students hosted Neuriel Shore, executive director of Teach Coalition California and Nevada, one day before addressing the Catholic school superintendents. - Samara Palko, director of education for the California Catholic Conference, said, “They were awesome! They really sparked a fire in our group.”

Between the lines: - The campaign is as much about awareness as persuasion. The students argue California cannot weigh in on the EFTC if school communities do not understand what is at stake. - The students are framing the debate as a state-level competition for federal education dollars, not a public-versus-private school fight. - Their outreach to Democrats for Education Reform, Teach Coalition and former Democratic education leaders suggests the campaign is trying to build bipartisan legitimacy around participation. - Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has called participation a “no-brainer,” and the students are using that message to push Democratic governors, including Newsom, to opt in.

What's next: - Schools, educators, parents and families are being asked to mobilize for the Oct. 5 postcard drive. - The students want dioceses and school communities to launch local campaigns and help turn the effort into a statewide push. - The group is aiming for 1 million postcards, or more, delivered to Sacramento in one day.

The bottom line: - A small student advocacy project has grown into a statewide campaign designed to pressure Gov. Newsom on a federal education funding decision.