Trump is changing how people pay for school. Here's what you should know

By Tami Luhby, Sunlen Serfaty, Curt Merrill and Tal Yellin, CNN President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending cuts package, the “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress last summer, has brought and will continue to bring changes to paying for education. Many of the student loan provisions kick in on July 1. Other measures take effect at different times. Here’s a guide to make sure you’re ready. Explore how paying for school could change for you Although popularly described as a “voucher program,” this provision is not so straightforward. When filing taxes for 2027, interested taxpayers will need to claim a credit of up to $1,700 for qualified donations to approved organizations that support scholarships for K-12 private school education. Essentially, this first-of-its-kind program will allow families to use public funds to offset some of the costs of private or religious schools. The use of this is capped by income and availability varies by state. Not all states have signed up. The benefit is available for “eligible students,” which is defined in the law as a student “eligible to enroll in public elementary or secondary school” who is part of a household with an income that di