Republicans backed away from some of the most controversial education proposals in their finalized tax bill Friday, leaving in place a school supply deduction for teachers and breaks for student borrowers while also declining to tax tuition benefits, a prospect that infuriated graduate students.
“On balance, the final bill is far better news — especially for students and families — than it could have been,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, which represents colleges and universities.
But public school advocates assailed the plan, which left intact provisions that could hurt public school funding while providing tax breaks for parents who send their children to private schools.