CO lawmakers propose guardrails on Trump-backed education funding program

March 24, 2026 - 04:58

Democratic lawmakers in Colorado are moving to establish strict parameters for a new federal education funding program recently joined by the state. The program, a tax credit scholarship initiative championed by former President Trump, allows individuals and businesses to receive tax credits for donations to organizations granting private school scholarships.

While Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, supports the program as an expansion of school choice, legislators from his own party have raised significant concerns. Their newly proposed guardrails aim to prevent discrimination and ensure statewide access.

The proposed rules would mandate that participating scholarship organizations serve students across all Colorado counties, not just concentrated urban areas. Further, the legislation seeks to protect student civil rights by prohibiting discrimination based on protected classes, including religion, for any school receiving the funds. Lawmakers also want clear financial transparency from the scholarship-granting organizations to ensure the funds are used appropriately.

Proponents of the guardrails argue they are necessary to uphold Colorado values and ensure the program benefits a broad and diverse range of students. The debate sets the stage for a political discussion on the balance between educational choice and equitable access, as the state determines how to implement the federal framework.