Hogan Proposes Tax Credits For Business Donations To Schools

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Gov. Larry Hogan is again pushing for tax credits for people and businesses that make donations to public and private schools.

The Republican governor released education initiatives Wednesday for the legislative session. The governor would phase in tax credits over three years totaling $15 million. They are aimed at boosting donations for kindergarten through 12th grade and pre-K programs.

The proposal ran into resistance last year in the Democratic-led General Assembly.

The Maryland State Education Association opposes the idea of awarding tax credits for donations to private schools. Betty Weller, the group's president, says it only helps students who can already afford to attend private school. She says it's a distraction from larger education issues at hand, such as reducing standardized testing, closing opportunity gaps and increasing public school funding.

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