Programs that direct public money toward private schools of a family’s choosing or family accounts that can cover any education expenses outside the public school system are proliferating.
Parents say they have sought out these programs as a way to deliver an education customized to their children’s unique needs. Politicians championing them say they represent a lifeline for students trapped in underperforming schools. Critics argue the programs deprive public schools of much-needed resources and point out that many children now benefiting from private school choice funds were already attending private schools beforehand. Several private school choice programs are facing lawsuits alleging that they violate state constitutions.
Students taking advantage of private school choice represent a small fraction of the nation’s total K-12 population, but the numbers signing up for new state programs have sometimes exceeded projections.
This tracker provides a concise yet comprehensive snapshot of the private school choice landscape on a rolling basis. In our Policies to Watch section, we highlight states where new private school choice programs or other notable private school choice policy changes are under consideration. Our glossary defines common terms in discussions about school choice.
States with at least one universal private school choice program
States with one or more private school choice program
States to watch
An ongoing look at significant private school choice policy developments that could influence the tracker.
Mississippi
On Jan. 15 the House passed a public education reform bill that would establish a new education savings account program. The state would offer 6,250 ESAs for public school students—each worth the state’s base per-pupil cost for education of roughly $7,000—and another 6,250 ESAs worth the same amount to any K-12 student attending public or private school. Low-income students would get priority consideration, and the state would grow the annual number of ESAs offered by 2,000 each year until it reaches 20,000. The bill—which secured an endorsement from U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon—faces steep odds in the Senate, where top lawmakers have expressed concerns over creating a new private school choice program.
Federal choice school tax credit
Education Week is tracking state decisions on participating in the federal new tax credit scholarship. Follow that tracker here.
Contact information
For media or research inquiries about this data, contact library@educationweek.org.
How to cite this page
Which States Have Private School Choice? (2024, January 31). Education Week. Retrieved Month Day, Year from https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/which-states-have-private-school-choice/2024/01
