Veteran family denied school voucher funding over tax form requirement

May 22, 2026 - 06:55

Tasha Barreda, a military veteran, recently applied for school vouchers to help cover costs for her 13-year-old daughter, Emma. Her application was denied. The reason? She failed to submit a specific tax form to the state. The problem is that Barreda does not file that form because of her status as a veteran.

Barreda's income comes from disability benefits tied to her military service. Because of that, she is not required to file the standard state income tax return that the voucher program demands as proof of eligibility. When she tried to explain the situation and offered alternative documentation, state officials reportedly refused to accept it. The system, she says, has no workaround for people in her position.

The denial has left Barreda frustrated. She argues that the requirement effectively punishes veterans who rely on non-taxable benefits. Instead of helping a military family access educational options, the bureaucratic rule created a barrier. She is now considering legal options or appealing to lawmakers to change the policy.

State education officials have not commented on the specific case, but the situation highlights a growing tension between the push for school choice programs and the rigid paperwork requirements that can exclude the very families those programs are meant to serve. For now, Emma remains in her current school while her mother fights for a chance to use the voucher.