Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that she will opt New York into the new federal scholarship tax credit program, making her the second Democratic governor to do so since the administration published formal regulations for the program.

Hochul’s decision bucks intense opposition from teachers’ unions, but has won her support from the Jewish community, which has been urging governors to opt in. She had previously said that she was inclined to support the program but was waiting to see if the regulations contained any poison pill provisions.

Given New York’s substantial Jewish population, her decision to join the program will be one of the most consequential for the Jewish community. It could prompt action by other Democratic governors as well. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis had been the only Democrat — until Hochul’s decision — to opt into the program.

“I’ve been clear from the start that New York would participate in the federal scholarship tax credit program if, and only if, all schools and students, including those in our public schools, could benefit,” Hochul said in her Friday statement. “After a careful review of the federal regulations, we believe this program has the potential to bring millions of additional dollars to New York students and families without taking a single dollar from public schools or our state or local budgets.”

She said that she would not “leave money on the table when it could help our kids” and that she has been “directly engaging with business leaders, who have committed to use this program to support public school students and their academic needs.”

The program will allow taxpayers to deduct up to $1,700 from their federal taxes through donations to scholarship granting organizations. Some Jewish community groups are supporting scholarship organizations to help students attend Jewish schools, but the scholarships can also help support public school students.

Hochul insisted that her “commitment to public education has not changed, and it never will.” Teachers’ unions have insisted that the program amounts to a federal private school voucher program and will sap funding from public education.

“We thank Governor Hochul for putting New York kids first,” Teach NYS, the New York branch of the Teach Coalition, said in a statement. “This is a historic moment for New York students and a testament to the power of collective advocacy.”

The group thanked the UJA-Federation of New York, Agudath Israel of America and various other groups, including the Catholic community, that have been advocates for the program.

Yeruchim Silber, the director of New York government relations for Agudath Israel of America, said it was a “tremendous day for education in New York.”

“This decision opens the door to millions of dollars in additional educational resources and opportunities for students in public and nonpublic schools alike, without taking a dollar away from public education,” Silber continued. “[Agudath Israel] is deeply grateful to the Governor and her team for recognizing the importance of this opportunity and ensuring that New York’s children and families will be able to benefit.”

Meanwhile, United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew condemned Hochul and vowed to work to roll back the policy.

“Giving up local control of public education to the federal government through the Trump administration’s private school voucher scheme is a failure of leadership. Gov. Hochul will bear the responsibility, but our students, educators, and families will bear the price,” Mulgrew said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the release of $70 million in state hate crimes funding to “fortify” religious facilities across the state — as well as a “surge” in police presence — as the High Holy Days begin this weekend.

The Democratic governor opened her press conference on Tuesday with an early “shana tova” and vowed to be “not just a protector but an ally and friend to the Jewish people of New York State.” The nearly 300 schools, houses of worship and civic groups that will receive grants of up to $250,000 each for cameras, alarms, security training and cybersecurity enhancements are not exclusively Jewish institutions, her office told Jewish Insider.

But the spike in hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers, and efforts to contain it, were Hochul’s focus as she recalled recent attacks against Jews in Manhattan and antisemitic graffiti in Queens.

“There has been more antisemitism and overt hatred levied against the people of Jewish faith than we can remember in recent history,” Hochul said.“We shouldn’t have to do this. We should never have to be thinking that these places of worship and places where children have to go to school have to be fortified against hate. And I pray that this time will pass.”

Hochul simultaneously announced increased state police deployments to houses of worship between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. She also highlighted the state’s recent passage of legislation that makes protesting within 50 feet of the entry points to a house of worship a misdemeanor.

“From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, our police officers will be out in force,” she said.  “That means when a grandfather walks into a shul, he’ll have the peace of mind to know he’ll be protected.”

Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition — an advocacy group for Jewish day schools and yeshivas — was on hand to laud the governor for defraying the increasing cost of protecting their students.

“Fear has a price tag,” Altfield said. “Thank you for recognizing the enormous financial burden that our communities simply cannot carry.” A recent study by the Jewish Federations of North America found that the American Jewish community now spends over $1 billion on security measures annually.