NEW YORK — New York teachers unions and supporters in the labor movement and the Democratic Party rallied Wednesday to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject President Donald Trump’s signature school voucher plan.

Hochul, a moderate Democrat, first announced her intention to opt into the Republican-led federal tax credit program in May. Governors must sign onto the plan in order for families in their states to receive scholarships from various organizations, which can be used to help pay for private school tuition. Under the Trump plan, taxpayers woul get a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to $1,700 for donations to approved nonprofits, which would help fill those organizations’ coffers.

But the United Federation of Teachers and the New York State United Teachers — with the support of Democratic members of the state Legislature, labor unions, education advocates, civil rights groups, and faith leaders — said Hochul should reconsider her position. The unions estimated more than 80 organizations were represented at the rally.

“It’s a bad thing,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “It’s a bad thing when it comes to all of the children in our state who go to public schools. It is a bad thing when we say we’re going to take taxpayer money and give it to folks with no accountability — none.”

The governor’s office disputed the program could siphon away funding from public education.

The organizations under the plan grant scholarships that can be used for not only private or religious school tuition, but also for tutoring, after-school, school buses, special education services and other educational expenses, including at public schools.

“Governor Hochul’s priority is making sure every student receives an education that best meets their needs, which is why she wants the federal scholarship tax credit to benefit all New York students,” said Jonah Allon, a spokesman for Hochul. “These credits have the potential to expand academic opportunity for public and private school students across our state without diverting resources from public schools or state and local budgets.”

Families who earn up to 300% of their area’s median income — or up to $309,000 in New York City, according to some estimates — may be eligible for the scholarships. Parents who already pay for private schools, but meet the income eligibility requirement, could also qualify.

The teachers unions and their allies at the rally questioned the Trump administration’s motivations, warning the program could divert enrollment and per-pupil funding from public schools, and redirect resources to private schools with less oversight and accountability.

“It is meant as a de-funding mechanism. It is meant to actually take money out of public schools,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “It is meant to help people who are already in private schools. That’s what’s happened across the country.”

In a show of political strength, Weingarten shouted out the many groups in attendance — from labor unions that included the Teamsters and Hotel Trades Council, to civil rights groups such as the NAACP and the New York City Civil Liberties Union.

“Some will tell us this is about free money from the federal government,” added Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers. “There is no such thing as free money.”

State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, D-Bronx, chair of the education committee, said it was up to Hochul to decide whether to opt into the program, despite the governor having already announced that she intends to do so.

“We’ve got a very intelligent governor in the State of New York,” Benedetto said. “She makes wonderful decisions. I hope she makes a decision that is a right decision on this — and is not a decision that she will be remembered for in the future as making the wrong decision.”

After the rally, Mulgrew told reporters that if the governor opts in, New York City’s public school system should not try to collect any funding through the scholarships.

“I think New York City schools should never — I don’t think any school in the state should be part of this because it will have ridiculous consequences down the road,” he said.

The governor’s office explained the program is designed so that a New Yorker can claim the federal tax credit, whether Hochul opts in or not — which will determine if the scholarship can benefit local students. State and local governments have also increasingly moved away from penalizing public schools for decreased enrollment, though the policy is widely debated.

The flex of political muscle came as the race for governor kicks into high gear. In November, Hochul must fend off Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive.

Hochul did not face a Democratic primary that could have forced her to shore up support on the left. Her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, dropped out of the race as the path narrowed for a progressive challenger with Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsement of the sitting governor.

Neither the president of the state nor city teachers union has considered pulling their support of Hochul, Mulgew and Person told reporters.

The Trump administration is expected to issue final regulations later this month.

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