Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham opted New Mexico into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), opening a new source of scholarships to families statewide.
Why it matters: New Mexico has never had an ESA or tax-credit scholarship program. The EFTC gives families new opportunities to choose the education that best fits their children while easing financial burdens. Scholarships can help cover private-school tuition, tutoring, learning materials and specialized services for students across public and private education settings.
By the numbers:
- More than 300,000 New Mexico students are estimated to be eligible for the credit.
- Taxpayers can claim a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for contributions to qualified scholarship granting organizations, up to $1,700 per individual or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly.
- New Mexico is the 32nd state to opt in.
What we’re saying:
“Governor Lujan Grisham put New Mexico families first, and we’re grateful for her leadership. This is an opportunity to leverage private philanthropy into education in ways we haven’t seen before. We look forward to working with Governor-elect Haaland to make sure every eligible family can take full advantage of this opportunity.”
— Alex Tapia, government affairs director, yes. every kid.
The big picture: New Mexico joins a growing list of states led by Democratic governors, including New York and neighboring Colorado, that have opted into the program.
What’s next: The credit launches Jan. 1, 2027. Participating states must submit their lists of qualified scholarship-granting organizations to the IRS by Feb. 15, 2027.
