How You Can Support Children in Underperforming Schools through the Alabama Accountability Act
Values-based investing allows you to choose how your investments make an impact, but did you know that you can do the same with your taxes? The Alabama Accountability Act allows individuals like you to leverage your tax dollars to support children in failing school districts.
Failing schools are those that underperform in specific metrics that measure school success, such as graduation rate, test scores, and overall student performance. Alabama recorded 75 failing schools across the state for the 20-21 school year.
Due to zoning laws and the increasing cost of tuition at private schools, most students in these districts do not have the option to attend anywhere other than a failing school.
When the Alabama Accountability Act was passed in 2013, this opened a door for individuals to help children in their community get the education they deserve.
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What is the Alabama Accountability Act?
The Alabama Accountability Act creates education flexibility from specific state requirements for public schools, establishes a tax credit scholarship program, and institutes refundable tax credits for parents of students in failing public schools.
As a result of this act, scholarship organizations have been established to give students zoned for failing schools another option, primarily by paying for their private school tuition. Students can apply for a scholarship from an organization that partners with a private school near them, and if accepted, can transfer at no cost to them or their parents.
Tax Credit for Charitable Donations
Individuals can also support these students at no cost to themselves. Under the Alabama Accountability Act, donors can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for up to 50% of their tax liability. Essentially, you can donate half of what you owe to the state in taxes to a state-approved scholarship granting organization (SGO) — up to $50,000 — at no additional cost.
And it is not limited to individuals! Corporations and small businesses can participate in this tax credit as well.
How Can You Get Involved?
If you are interested in using your tax liability to help students gain better access to education, getting started is simple.
You can choose a scholarship organization that works directly with a private school in your community or any qualifying organization that helps students within the state of Alabama. You don’t have to be in a failing school zone to donate!
Scholarship For Kids is one of the many excellent local organizations we have worked with in the past. See the list of participating schools here!
As the holidays are approaching, this is one way your generous giving can change the life of those in your community. Some of our advisors have worked closely with these private schools, and it’s a joy and blessing to hear about how this opportunity has completely turned students’ lives around. One small action can change the trajectory of a child’s future!
If you have questions about the Alabama Accountability Act or want to know more about how you can get involved, contact us today!