There’s a curse that goes, “Be careful what you wish for…you may get it.”  The problem is we set expectations for ourselves and for situations, and then are surprised by the unintended consequences which may result from getting what we want.

We’ve all had these types of experiences.  You may lease a new car rather than buying one with several thousand miles on it because you wish you could afford a new one.  When the folks at the retailer make it possible, an issue keeps recurring every 5,000 miles or so.  Even though it’s always been corrected under warranty, that doesn’t take into consideration the inconvenience or the time lost in waiting for repairs to be made.

The fact is that while we can wish for anything, we really can’t plan for everything that may happen if the wish comes true – although we think we can.

Some schools that have wished and worked for government vouchers have been overjoyed when they found out that vouchers were approved…only to find that schools can end up closing because of them.

That same kind of spirit is present today, with the introduction of the Education Freedom Tax Credit.

Therefore, it’s very important to call things by their right names, and define what is meant by “vouchers,” or “tax credits,” or “scholarships,” and the qualifications necessary for a family to receive this type of assistance.

And remember, the media doesn’t help to facilitate this learning.  It’s akin to referring to “financial aid,” “tuition assistance,” and “scholarship” as the same thing, when it’s really not…but it provides a synonym to a journalist or reporter who doesn’t want to keep repeating the same terminology over and over.

There are schools that have, after learning they’ll receive a voucher for $4000 from qualified families, raised their tuition significantly to take full advantage of the amount.  The unintended consequence was that families who did not qualify just received a hefty tuition increase, and, before hearing anything about how they could possibly receive financial aid, simply decided to disenroll their children from the school.

Further, since families received vouchers that were intended to cover the entire cost of schooling, there was no compulsion to purchase uniforms, or to encourage families to volunteer for events or assist in the fundraising activities of the school, since the voucher is intended to cover the expenses incurred by the parent for the student.

Since vouchers are on the lips of many state officials as well as school leaders today, it helps to really know what one is getting into, and what can happen once a wish is granted.

Everyone’s very excited about the federal tax credit, because, from the people I’ve spoken with, they think they’ll be getting a larger tax refund.  They can, but it’s only if they make a contribution in that amount to qualified scholarship organization.  Further, since there’s a dollar for dollar benefit associated with it, it’s not a tax-deductible contribution.  Then they ask, “So what’s the benefit to me?”

The benefit is that you’re helping someone to afford a private school education.  While that sounds great to a segment of the population, it may not resonate with the people of Generation X or Millennials who have children enrolled in excellent public school districts.

As with any controversial program, once it gets rolling, unintended consequences happen.  For example, the tax credit program in Pennsylvania bases eligibility on “household income.”  If someone changes jobs and rolls their 401K over into a new program with a new employer or financial advisor, that money is not taxable, but it is counted as household income.  While this law has been in place for over 20 years, I STILL receive calls saying this stipulation is “stupid, and doesn’t make sense.”

An appropriate sentiment to be expressed on tax day, right?

While that’s true, it’s still the law.  That tells me that people haven’t read the law.  They simply “expect” financial aid to be available every year.

Therefore, it’s not just about the money, just as it’s not all about the family’s participation, the formation of a safe and caring community, the fostering of academic excellence, and preparing students to serve, inspire, and nurture others as well as grow and succeed.

It’s about ALL of it.