On March 12, 2025, over 200 students, parents, advocates and school leaders from across the state gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol to thank Gov. Stitt and the Oklahoma legislators for the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program, and showcase the real-life impact this program is having on students and families.
Among the many powerful voices was Ed Gray, a single father and recently retired federal law enforcement agent, who shared how school choice transformed his son’s educational experience.
After relocating to Oklahoma from Virginia in 2022, Ed was faced with the urgent challenge of finding the right school for his son, who had an IEP and had previously struggled in a traditional public middle school environment.
“I immediately knew [Trinity School at Edgemere] would be the perfect place for my son,” Ed said. “But I also knew it would be expensive.”
Despite the financial burden, Ed knew that Trinity was the right fit for his child’s education. For several years, he paid full tuition out of pocket, until advocates and Trinity School helped him navigate the application for the recently implemented Parental Choice Tax Credit and the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship.
Thanks to the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, Ed’s family is no longer under the financial strain of paying full tuition out of pocket, ensuring his son can continue learning in the school that’s already meeting his unique academic and personal needs. No two children are the same, and their education paths should reflect that. The Parental Choice Tax Credit gives families the freedom to choose what is best for their children.
As Ed reminded attendees, programs like the Parental Choice Tax Credit are changing the lives of Oklahoma’s students: "Thank you for your support of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit and the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, which have both directly benefited my family and my son’s education in Oklahoma."
