The 2023 passage of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act (PCTC), which provides refundable tax credits to help families cover the cost of private school, has proven wildly successful. Demand for credits has already exceeded the supply and even more working-class families are expected to benefit as the tax-credit program grows.

However, even as the program makes private school financially affordable for many families for the first time, the challenge of school capacity remains.

Since public-school shutdowns during Covid drove many families to leave that system, many private schools have had enrollment at or near capacity—meaning many private schools are now grappling with the need to expand school facilities to meet growing consumer demand.

One private school in Oklahoma City, Crossings Christian School, recently got a leg up in that process when the school was provided 54 acres near its existing campus with most of that land donated.

Jason Nave, head of school for Crossings Christian School, said the school’s board has been considering expansion plans for several years—and the provision of the 54 acres has been a literal answer to prayer.

“We’ve been praying and looking through this process, and all of a sudden this is on the table just out of the middle of nowhere,” Nave said. “And so we know that the Lord has provided that.”

The school had experienced strong growth even prior to Covid. When Crossings moved to its current campus in 2007, it had 239 students. Today, that total is just over 1,200.

Enrollment growth is expected to continue, space permitting, due in part to more families being able to afford private school thanks to the school-choice program.

Under the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, families can receive refundable tax credits of $5,000 to $7,500 per child to pay private-school tuition with the largest tax credits going to the lowest-income families.

According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, roughly 36,000 applications were submitted for the school-choice program in its first year. But 5,600 applicants were rejected because the $150 million cap was quickly reached.

The program cap is scheduled to increase to $250 million with more low-income and middle-class families benefiting.

In a video announcing the donation of the 54 acres, Terry Feix, board chair of Crossings Christian School, noted the school-choice program could supercharge the trend of more families seeking private school.

“Today, there is still a growing need for Christian education,” Feix said. “In fact, at Crossings Christian School, we have waiting lists in every division. Across the nation, you’re seeing people realize the value and the quality of Christian education. And then of course in Oklahoma, our recent Parental Choice Tax Credit has opened the door for so many more people.”

Nave said officials at Crossings want the school to “be accessible to all families.”

“That’s what’s great about the PCTC,” Nave said. “It has knocked down some of those barriers.”

Teri Inman, development director for Crossings Christian School, said the families of prospective students often credit the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program, telling school officials, “We’re only ready to start talking about attending because of the parental tax choice.”

Officials are in the process of determining when and how to expand the school’s facilities on the new property to accommodate more students.

The school’s mission statement says Crossings Christian School will “partner with parents and church to develop students into Christ-centered servant leaders who are academically and spiritually prepared for college and life.”

Nave said that mission is the main attraction for families who consider sending their child to the school, and that will not change with future growth.

“The mission is really important. Anytime that you expand or think about expanding, you’ve got to consider your mission and make sure you protect that culture of your mission,” Nave said. “And so anything that we look at as far as what the Lord wants to do, we know that mission is to be kept intact.”

While opponents of school choice dismiss private schools as catering only to the wealthy, Crossings officials say that is not the case, as many working-class families have pursued private education for their children.

“We’ve got parents who’ve worked extra jobs to get their kids here,” Inman said.

Nave said the Oklahoma families who want a private Christian education for their children are not those who view tuition as a “negligible” expense.

“There are people who are making real sacrifices to be here,” Nave said.

He said the tax credit program has had “fantastic” impact increasing accessibility for families of modest means.

For several years, the school has utilized the state’s Equal Opportunity Scholarship program, which provides tax credits to those who donate to scholarship-granting organizations that primarily benefit working-class students.

As a result, the benefits of a private-school education at Crossings have not been limited to those coming from upper-income families.

Crossings had nine National Merit Scholar semifinalists a year ago. Several were from working-class families, representing the type of students for whom the tax credit program now makes private school a viable option.

“We have students who work at McDonald’s in the summer,” Inman said, “and they’re going off to college on a full ride when they leave here, which is amazing. They have a new perspective and a new opportunity.”