Gov. Josh Shapiro has built his political reputation on pragmatism.

Unlike many politicians who view every issue through a partisan lens, Shapiro has often shown a willingness to cross ideological lines when he believes the facts support doing so. That approach should guide him as Pennsylvania considers whether to participate in the new federal scholarship tax credit program.

The answer should be yes.

The debate has quickly become entangled in the familiar rhetoric of the school choice wars. Supporters call it a breakthrough. Opponents call it a voucher scheme. But neither label captures the central fact. This program offers Pennsylvania the opportunity to generate substantial new educational resources without requiring additional state spending and without reducing existing support for public schools.

That is a rare opportunity in public policy.

Under the federal program, taxpayers may contribute $1,700 yearly to Scholarship Granting Organizations and receive a federal tax credit in return. The funds can then be used to provide educational scholarships and assistance to eligible students. The money comes through the federal tax code, not Pennsylvania’s budget. Harrisburg does not write the check. Pennsylvania taxpayers do not face a tax increase. Public school funding formulas remain intact. Yet the potential benefits are significant.

Pennsylvania is home to one of the nation’s largest nonpublic educational sectors. More than 280,000 students attend private and nonpublic schools across the commonwealth. Catholic schools, Jewish day schools, Christian academies and other independent institutions have long been part of Pennsylvania’s educational landscape, providing families with educational options that many believe best meet their children’s needs.

For many of those families, affordability remains a challenge. The new scholarship program could help address that challenge. Additional scholarship funding would make educational choice more accessible while helping sustain institutions that already contribute enormously to the commonwealth’s educational fabric.

The potential impact on Pennsylvania’s Jewish day schools deserves particular attention. These schools provide strong academic preparation while helping transmit religious identity, civic responsibility and communal values. Rising tuition costs have placed increasing pressure on both families and schools. Access to new scholarship resources could make a meaningful difference for thousands of students.

Nor is this simply a matter of helping nonpublic schools. Even some longtime critics of voucher programs have acknowledged that public schools may also benefit. School districts could potentially establish Scholarship Granting Organizations that support tutoring, transportation, enrichment programs and other services that directly assist public school students.

Opponents raise concerns about oversight and accountability. Those concerns deserve consideration. Pennsylvania should establish appropriate safeguards and transparency requirements. But concerns about administration are not an argument against participation. They are an argument for responsible implementation. The larger question is whether Pennsylvania should leave federal benefits on the table while other states move forward.

Gov. Shapiro has long argued that families deserve opportunity and that government should focus less on ideology and more on results. This program presents an opportunity to put those principles into practice. Pennsylvania can participate, shape the program responsibly and ensure that its students benefit. Or it can allow educational resources that could support Pennsylvania families to flow elsewhere.

For a governor who prides himself on practical solutions rather than partisan reflexes, the choice should be clear. Gov. Shapiro should opt in.