There are moments in public policy where we have to pause and ask a simple question: Are we making this more complicated than it needs to be?

Right now, that’s how I feel about the conversation happening around education in Colorado.

At African Leadership Group, we work closely with families from many backgrounds. What we hear from parents is not political. It is not ideological. It is practical. Parents want good schools. They want options that fit their children. And they want access to resources that help their children succeed.

That’s it.

And if we are being honest, we also know this: No one believes our current system is perfectly serving every child. Many students are thriving, but many are not, especially students who are low-income, English-language learners, or from communities of color. This is a reality that calls for thoughtful improvement, not defensiveness.

That is why African Leadership Group joined with FaithBridge, Transform Education Now, and others to form the Educational Justice Coalition. We came together around a shared belief that every family deserves real access to the educational path that works best for their child. That mix of options includes traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools, homeschools, and the growing number of hybrid and enrichment options families are exploring today.

In that spirit, we are encouraged by the potential of the new federal education tax credit. It represents something simple but powerful: The ability for families and communities to direct additional resources toward students without taking anything away from existing public-school funding.

That last point bears repeating. This program would take no money away from the current funding of the public-school system. It simply allows donors — individuals and companies — to voluntarily opt in and give a contribution. Not mandatory. Totally optional.

But the small business owners I’ve spoken with understand the benefit immediately. When given the choice to send tax dollars to Washington or invest those same dollars into educational opportunities here in Colorado, many see it as a straightforward decision.

They want to keep those resources local. They want to support students directly. They want to be part of the solution.

That is why the current debate at the State Capitol is so important. Legislators are right to ask questions. They are right to think carefully about how any federal policy might affect Colorado. That is their responsibility.

But good governance also requires timing and restraint. The federal government is still finalizing the rules for how this program will work: What qualifies, how funds are distributed, and what safeguards are in place.

Moving to pass new state-level restrictions before those rules are finalized creates unnecessary risk. At best, it creates confusion. At worst, it could limit Colorado’s ability to fully participate and benefit.

And that would be a missed opportunity.

This should not be about partisan divides. It shouldn’t be about whether someone calls this a “tax credit” or a “voucher.” This moment is about whether Colorado families gain access to more resources, or fewer. It is about whether we create space for innovation or shut it down before it begins. And it is about whether we allow additional dollars to flow into our communities to support students, or watch those resources go elsewhere.

We should be able to have this conversation without turning it into a battle. We should be able to say: Let’s evaluate this carefully. Let’s align with federal guidance once it is clear. And then let’s build a system that works for Colorado families; thoughtfully, responsibly, and effectively.

At African Leadership Group, and within the Educational Justice Coalition, that is all we are asking. To take a step back from ideological clashes and make a collective commitment to getting this right. Because when we focus on what is best for children and families, we arrive at what both sides of the aisle say they want: putting children first.

And that is something we should all be able to agree on.