RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Individuals and companies donating to qualified educational organizations will soon be able to claim up to $1,700 in federal tax credits under Virginia's recent participation in the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a move the Virginia Education Association (VEA) has called "rec kless." The Office of the Governor announced Friday, Jan. 9, that Virginia is the first state to opt into the program, also known as the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), which takes effect in 2027. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said the program will expand school options for K-12 students and families. Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera added that families without the means can now participate in tutoring, enrichment programs and tuition assistance for private schools. Homeschooling, religious exemptions on the rise in Virginia: VDOE Starting Jan. 1, 2027, taxpayers will be able to claim a dollar-for-dollar, nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). SGOs provide K-12 scholarships that families can use for tuition, tutoring, educational therapies for students with disabilities and other education-related services, per the release. An initial list of eight SGOs includes two based in Virginia: Step Up, Virginia! (statewide) Torah Education Scholarship Fund (statewide)  The Endowment Project Foundation (national)  American Federation for Children (national)  Children’s Scholarship Fund (national)  Reficio (national)  ACE Scholarships (national)  EducationSuperHighway (national)  The governor's office said the list may be updated as additional federal guidance becomes available. Some Central Virginia students could lose early education if Trump administration ends Head Start funding The Commonwealth's latest move was met with criticism from Virginia's largest teachers' union The VEA on Jan. 9 said the announcement is "an attempt to lock Virginia into a program before the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have finalized the rules that will determine how the program works and how it will affect Virginia students and communities." The organization said the program would shift federal funding away from public schools toward private and religious organizations, potentially draining billions of dollars from public education. The group urged Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) to review the federal guidance as it is updated and "make the best decision" for Virginia students, families and communities. ...read more read less