Eighteen (18) states had universal private school choice programs as of June 2025. Universal school choice programs provide public funds for alternatives to public schools, such as private schools and homeschooling, and are designed for all students to qualify.[1][2][3]
- 15 of the 18 states were Republican trifectas, and 9 Republican trifectas did not have universal school choice.
- All 15 Democratic trifectas did not have universal school choice.
- Three states with universal school choice policies are divided governments, and nine divided government states do not have universal school choice.
As of June 2025, 12 Republican trifecta states had enacted universal school choice programs since 2021. In 2025, Idaho, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Wyoming, and New Hampshire passed universal private school choice legislation.
Arguments surrounding school choice legislation often incorporate claims about the impact of private school choice on rural school districts, defined by the NCES and the Census as a school district that is not in a densely developed area with at least 2,000 housing units or a population of 5,000 or more.[4]. Click here for more about the arguments.
In Republican trifecta states that have enacted universal school choice policies, an average of 51% of school districts are rural, while in Republican trifecta states that have not enacted universal school choice policies, an average of 63% of school districts are rural. In other words, Republican states with universal school choice programs had fewer rural school districts than Republican states without them.
Another 15 states had limited private school choice programs as of June 2025 designed so that a specific subset of students — based on criteria such as family income, location of residence, demographic, or disability — qualify and others do not. The remaining 17 states had no private school choice programs.
This page is Ballotpedia's go-to resource on how private school choice programs affect rural school districts and how rural perspectives inform school choice policies. We are actively building out and adding to this portal on the impact of school choice on rural school districts. Click on one of the topics to the right or scroll down to access data, analysis, arguments, commentary and real-world stories, and state-by-state comparisons.
- States with and without universal school choice
- Arguments about universal school choice in rural districts
- Case studies on legislative support and opposition
- Studies on the impact of school choice on rural school districts
- State-by-state analysis of legislative support and opposition
- Types of school choice and terminology
- Analysis of legislators representing rural school districts
- Policy and reform proposals related to school choice and rural districts
- Polling about universal school choice
- Noteworthy recent events and policy changes
- Related videos from Ballotpedia
States with and without universal school choice
What is universal school choice?
Private school choice refers to policies and programs that provide public funds for alternatives to public schools, such as private schools and homeschooling. These policies include education savings accounts (ESAs), school vouchers, and education tax credit systems. A universal school choice program is one for which all students are eligible, regardless of family income, location, demographic, or disability. In contrast, non-universal school choice programs are available to a subset of qualifying students, such as students in families with income below a certain threshold, students with disabilities or special needs, or students zoned for certain schools or living in certain districts.
The history of universal school choice in the U.S. began with Minnesota's education tax deduction in 1955, followed by Arizona's Tax-Credit Scholarship Program in 1997. In 2021, West Virginia launched the first universal Education Savings Account (ESA), which has since become the most common type of universal school choice program. As of March 2025, nine Republican trifecta states had enacted universal ESAs since 2021. In 2025, Idaho, Tennessee, and Wyoming passed universal private school choice legislation.[5]
Private school choice programs are categorized as universal when any student in the state can qualify for benefits. Universal programs, however, vary widely regarding the benefit amount and the funding available, the type of program, the number of students using the program, and the accessibility of the funding. For example, Minnesota's education tax deduction program provided an average benefit of a $1,307 tax deduction per student as of 2024, while Arizona's ESA program provided an average benefit of $9,782 in an ESA account.
The following map shows which states do not have universal school choice programs. It highlights states that do not have any private school choice programs and states that have private school choice programs for which a subset, but not all, students qualify.
Types of school choice and terminology
- See also: School choice glossary
- Education savings account (ESA) programs provide public funding for eligible students that families can use on approved educational alternatives to assigned public schools. Qualifying alternatives often include private school tuition, tutoring services, transportation to school, or homeschooling supplies.[6]
- Voucher programs pay for eligible students to attend private schools. The funds typically transfer directly from the government to the school.[7]
- Education tax-credit programs provide tax incentives to individuals and businesses for supporting education and usually take one of the following forms:[8]
- Tax-credit scholarships allow individuals and businesses to lower their tax burden by donating to scholarship funds, which provide private school tuition assistance.
- Individual tax credits/deductions allow families to reduce their state tax liability for approved education expenses, such as tuition, textbooks, or tutoring.
- Tax-credit ESAs allow tax credits for donations to fund Education Savings Accounts, which families can use for a range of educational expenses.
- Rural school district, as classified by the NCES and the Census, means a school district that is not in a densely developed area with at least 2,000 housing units or a population of 5,000 or more.[4]
Arguments supporting and opposing universal school choice in rural school districts
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Arguments supporting universal school choice in rural districts
Below are some of the key arguments supporting school choice in rural school districts. Click on an argument to read the details.
Arguments supporting rural school choice
- School choice works in rural districts where it has been tried
- School choice policies improve rural school districts
- School choice can help protect neighborhood schools
- Rural districts should prioritize student needs, not school finances
- Online choices can meet the needs of more rural students
- School choice enables rural students to pursue trade-focused training
Arguments opposing universal school choice in rural districts
Below are some of the key arguments opposing school choice in rural school districts. Click on an argument to read the details.
Arguments opposing rural school choice
- School choice takes money away from rural public schools
- School choice undermines rural communities
- Rural students can't access school choice alternatives
- School choice harms rural taxpayers
- Click here to read detailed arguments supporting universal school choice.
- Click here to read detailed arguments opposing universal school choice.
Case studies on legislative support and opposition
Texas case study (2023-2024)Texas legislators introduced House Bill 1 in the final special session of 2023. The bill proposed enacting education savings accounts (ESAs), which would have allowed parents to use public funds for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, or other educational services. The Texas House voted 84-63 to remove ESAs from the legislation. The 63 ESA supporters were Republican, but 21 Republicans joined with House Democrats to oppose the provisions.
North Carolina case study (2023-2024)The North Carolina Legislature enacted provisions from the Choose Your School, Choose Your Future bill in 2024 as part of House Bill 10, expanding the state's school choice program to make all K-12 students eligible for Opportunity Scholarships, which provide state funding for families to help cover tuition at private schools. The bill passed over Governor Roy Cooper's (D) veto 72-44 in the state House on November 19 and 30-19 in the state Senate on November 20.
West Virginia case study (2021-2025)The West Virginia Legislature enacted the Hope Scholarship in 2021, expanding the state's school choice program to create an education savings account program. The bill included a provision that expanded the Hope Scholarship to all students in the state in 2026 if certain criteria were met. HB2013 passed the West Virginia Senate 20-13, with two Republicans breaking from their party. All Democrats opposed the bill. HB2013 passed the West Virginia House of Delegates 57-42, with 19 Republicans breaking from their party to oppose it. Governor Jim Justice (R) signed it on March 27, 2021.
Iowa case studyThe Iowa Legislature enacted the Students First Education Savings Account Program in 2023 as part of House File (HF) 68, to create an education savings account program. The program was set to become available to all K-12 students starting in the 2025-2026 school year. HF68 passed the Iowa House of Representatives 55-45, with nine Republicans breaking from their party to oppose the bill on January 23, 2023. All Democrats opposed the bill. HF68 passed the Iowa State Senate 31-18, with three Republicans breaking from their party to oppose the bill on January 23, 2023. All Democrats opposed the bill. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed the bill on January 24, 2023.
Studies on the impact of school choice on rural school districts
- Note: The inclusion of a report, white page, or study concerning an issue in this article does not indicate that Ballotpedia agrees with the conclusions of that study or that Ballotpedia necessarily considers the study to have a sound methodology, accurate conclusions, or a neutral basis. To read a full explanation of Ballotpedia's policy on the inclusion of reports and analyses, please click here.
Conclusions supportive of school choice in rural areas
1. February 2025, EdChoice, "The Enrollment Decline Windfall"
EdChoice released a study in 2025 titled "The Enrollment Decline Windfall."[9]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
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Click here to read the full report.
2. January 2023, The Heritage Foundation, "Rustic Renaissance: Education Choice in Rural Areas"
The Heritage Foundation released a study in January 2023 titled "Rustic Renaissance: Education Choice in Rural Areas."[11]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
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Click here to read the full report.
3. November 2022, Step Up for Students, "Rerouting the Myths of Rural Education Choice"
Step Up For Students released a study in November 2022 titled "Rerouting the Myths of Rural Education Choice."[12]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
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Click here to read the full report.
Conclusions not supportive of school choice in rural areas
1. October 2024, Education Trust, "How School Vouchers Hurt Rural Communities"
The Education Trust released a brief in October 2024 titled "How School Vouchers Hurt Rural Communities."[13]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
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Click here to read the full report.
2. January 2024, Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and the Education Law Center, "Private School Vouchers are Especially Harmful to Rural Communities"
The Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and the Education Law Center released a report in January 2024 titled "Private School Vouchers are Especially Harmful to Rural Communities."[14]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
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Click here to read the full report.
3. July 2024, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, "The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky"
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy released a report in July 2024 titled "The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky."[15]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
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Click here to read the full report.
Compilation of multiple studies
EdChoice released a summary/compilation of findings from multiple studies in July 2023 titled "The 1-2-3s of School Choice." While not specific to rural areas, it offers readers an overview of issues in choice debates around the country. [16]
| Key summary points highlighted by the analysis are below | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Click here to read the full report.
To submit a study or report for inclusion, email editor@ballotpedia.org.
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This section features legislative vote histories regarding school choice legislation, broken down by rural, suburban, and urban legislators. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Census, there are 7,386 state legislative districts. Of those, 2,945 state legislative districts—or 39.8%—represent at least one rural school district.[17]
State-by-state analysis of school choice legislation and legislative representation
Ballotpedia aggregated and analyzed legislative vote data on private school choice legislation in Republican trifecta states that, as of January 2025, had not enacted universal private school choice policies. This project analyzes vote history across party affiliation and between legislators representing at least one rural school district and those without any rural school districts in their districts. It also shows how many legislative districts there are in each state containing at least one rural school district and lists out the legislators representing those districts.
Alabama
Georgia
Indiana
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
North Dakota
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Wyoming
Note: Texas enacted SB2 in May 2025 to implement a universal private school choice program. The legislative vote history page has data from previous votes in 2023 and 2024 on private school choice legislation.
This section features reform proposals related to the impact of school choice on rural districts.
School choice programs should be reserved for students coming from public schools
This reform proposal holds that students enrolled in private school the year before applying for a school choice program should be ineligible for such programs. Proponents argue that school choice programs should be reserved for families who could not otherwise pay for private educational expenses.
School choice programs should tie benefit amounts to income brackets
This reform proposal holds that the amount of benefits families receive from school choice programs should be tied to income brackets, and families with higher incomes should receive less assistance than lower-income families.
School choice programs should reserve availability for students in families below a certain income threshhold
This reform proposal argues that school choice programs should reserve program spots for students in low-income families below a certain income threshold. Proponents of this reform argue that it encourages and enables families who are not wealthy to participate in a school choice program.
School choice programs should reserve availability for students currently enrolled in public schools
This reform proposal argues that while school choice programs can be available to all students, a specific amount of spots should be reserved for students currently enrolled in public school. Proponents of this reform argue that this helps the program serve not only students already enrolled in private schools.
School choice programs should only become available to all students after it is first utilized by a specific group of students
This reform proposal argues that school choice programs should be available first to a specific demographic of students, such as those below a certain income threshold or those not already enrolled in private school.
State funding to school districts should not decrease due to decreased enrollment
This reform proposal argues that school choice legislation should include hold-harmless provisions that limit year-to-year funding reductions for public schools due to lower rates of enrollment. Since some public schools receive funding based on enrollment numbers, these provisions are meant to protect public school funding if students choose to participate in private school choice programs.
The children of legislators and state officials should be excluded from receiving school choice benefits
This reform proposal argues that legislators or other public officials should not benefit from school choice programs they enacted.
Additional public school teacher compensation should be included in private school choice expansion proposals
This reform argues that teachers in public schools should be compensated for their commitment to serving in public schools and combining additional public school teacher compensation with private school choice expansion shows commitment and support for public schools.
School choice programs need timely ways of allowing families access to funds
This reform proposal argues that because people in rural areas do not have access to as many educational service vendors as urban families, delays in funding disbursements by school choice program administration entities can leave rural families with no other schooling options if they cannot access their allotted funds to reimburse their vendors. Proponents contend that school choice programs serving rural areas need to have funding disbursement methods that provide timely access to funds so families can pay their vendors on time.[27]
Universal ESA programs should provide funds for homeschool expenses and educational costs for public school students in addition to private school expenses
This reform proposal argues that universal ESA programs that provide funding to cover private school expenses only benefit a small number of families and that they disproportionately benefit larger communities.
The state should match every dollar given to private schools with funding for public schools
This reform proposal argues that public schools should not lose money from children leaving public school systems for private schools under public funding; therefore, every state dollar given to private schools should be matched with funding to public schools. The extra money public schools receive can only be spent on specific things.[29]
States should cover the entire tuition amount for every student in a private school choice program
This reform proposal argues that states should cover the entire tuition amount for every student in a private school choice program, or that no private school receiving state dollars can have tuition exceeding the amount a voucher provides.[29]
Private schools must not discriminate on any basis for student admission
This reform proposal argues that since private schools aren't subject to state and federal discrimination laws, private schools receiving state money must agree that they will not discriminate against students when making admission decisions. This includes on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, disciplinary record, among other student attributes.[29]
Polling about private school choice policies
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EdChoice/Morning Consult - March 2024
A March 2024 poll conducted for the pro-school choice advocacy group EdChoice showed a majority of respondents supported specific school choice policies when these policies were explained by the pollster. The poll showed lower rates of support among rural respondents for each of these school choice policies compared to all poll respondents, though a majority of rural respondents were still in favor of these policies. (Sample = 2252 adults; error = ±2.41%)[30]
- ESAs: 71% support, 10% oppose
- Poll question: "An 'education savings account' in K–12 education – often called an ESA – establishes for parents a government-authorized savings account with restricted, but multiple uses for educational purposes. Parents can then use these funds to pay for: school tuition; tutoring; online education programs; therapies for students with special needs; textbooks or other instructional materials; or save for future college expenses. In general, what is your opinion of an ESA system?"
- All respondents: 31% "Strongly Support," 40% "Somewhat Support," 6% "Oppose," 4% "Strongly Oppose."
- Rural respondents: 64% support
- Poll question: "An 'education savings account' in K–12 education – often called an ESA – establishes for parents a government-authorized savings account with restricted, but multiple uses for educational purposes. Parents can then use these funds to pay for: school tuition; tutoring; online education programs; therapies for students with special needs; textbooks or other instructional materials; or save for future college expenses. In general, what is your opinion of an ESA system?"
- School Vouchers: 60% support, 25% oppose
- Poll Question: "A school voucher system allows parents the option of sending their child to the school of their choice, whether that school is public or private, including both religious and non-religious schools. If this policy were adopted, tax dollars currently allocated to a school district would be allocated to parents in the form of a 'school voucher' to pay partial or full tuition for the child’s school. In general, what is your opinion of school voucher systems?"
- All respondents: 26% "Strongly Support," 34% "Somewhat Support," 14% "Oppose," 11% "Strongly Oppose."
- Rural respondents: 56% support
- Poll Question: "A school voucher system allows parents the option of sending their child to the school of their choice, whether that school is public or private, including both religious and non-religious schools. If this policy were adopted, tax dollars currently allocated to a school district would be allocated to parents in the form of a 'school voucher' to pay partial or full tuition for the child’s school. In general, what is your opinion of school voucher systems?"
- Charter Schools: 65% support, 19% oppose
- Poll Question: "Charter schools are public schools that have more control over their own budget, staff, and curriculum, and are exempt from many existing public school regulations. In general, what is your opinion of public charter schools?"
- All respondents: 21% "Strongly Support," 44% "Somewhat Support," 13% "Oppose," 6% "Strongly Oppose."
- Rural respondents: 59% support
- Poll Question: "Charter schools are public schools that have more control over their own budget, staff, and curriculum, and are exempt from many existing public school regulations. In general, what is your opinion of public charter schools?"
- Open enrollment: 70% support, 16% oppose
- Poll Question: "An “open enrollment” policy in K-12 education allows a student enrolled in public school to select and transfer to a public school of their choice, rather than attending a school based on where they live. A student can be allowed to transfer to a public school in another district (called “INTER-district”). The policy is based on a first come, first served process until districts are no longer able to accommodate new students."
- All respondents: 27% "Strongly Support," 43% "Somewhat Support," 11% "Oppose," 5% "Strongly Oppose."
- Rural respondents: 64% support
- Poll Question: "An “open enrollment” policy in K-12 education allows a student enrolled in public school to select and transfer to a public school of their choice, rather than attending a school based on where they live. A student can be allowed to transfer to a public school in another district (called “INTER-district”). The policy is based on a first come, first served process until districts are no longer able to accommodate new students."
Click here to read the EdChoice poll details.
The Center Square/Noble Predictive Insights - July 2023
July 2023 polling by the news organization The Center Square showed to be Americans divided on the question of using taxpayer dollars to support school choice policies. (Sample = 2500 voters)[31]
- Poll Question: "What is your stance on school choice initiatives that involve using tax dollars to determine where children attend school?"
- 34%: "I support school choice initiatives and believe that tax dollars should follow students regardless of the situation, allowing parents to decide the best educational option"
- 17%:: "I support school choice initiatives but think that tax dollars should primarily be directed towards lower-income Americans to help them access better educational opportunities for their children"
- 31%: "I believe tax dollars should be allocated exclusively for public schools an not used for school choice initiative"
- 18%: "Unsure"
Click here to read the Center Square news story.
Reuters/Ipsos - March 2023
In contrast, a March 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll found much lower rates of support for school choice policies among the general public than the EdChoice poll. This is likely due in part to differences in how the questions asked by the two polls were phrased. (Sample = 4410 adults; error = ±1.8%)[32]
- Poll Question: "[Laws allowing government money to send students to private and religious schools, even if it reduces money for public schools] To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?"
- "Strongly support:" 15%; "Somewhat support:" 21%; "Somewhat oppose:" 25%; "Strongly oppose:" 26%; "Not sure:" 12%.
- 36%: Total support ("strongly" + "somewhat")
- 51%: Total oppose ("strongly" + "somewhat")
Click here to read the Reuters poll details.
Further discussion of the Reuters/Ipsos poll and other school choice polling can be found in an article by the news site fivethirtyeight.com.[33]
Education savings account (ESA) polling
| ESA support - EdChoice and Morning Consult poll | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Consult | March 7, 2024 - March 10, 2024 | 2,252 | ± 2.41% | 71% | 10% | 19% |
| Question: "An "education savings account" in K–12 education – often called an ESA – establishes for parents a government-authorized savings account with restricted, but multiple uses for educational purposes. Parents can then use these funds to pay for: school tuition; tutoring; online education programs; therapies for students with special needs; textbooks or other instructional materials; or save for future college expenses. In general, what is your opinion of an ESA system?" | ||||||
Noteworthy events
- July 15, 2025: A Laramie County District Court judge instituted a preliminary injunction on Wyoming's universal Steamboat Legacy private school choice program, preventing payouts to families during litigation over the legality of the program. The program was enacted by the state legislature in March 2025 and set to begin on July 1, 2025, but was delayed on June 27, 2025, then temporarily blocked on July 15.[34]
- June 24, 2025: A judge in Franklin County, Ohio, ruled that Ohio's EdChoice Scholarship, a universal school choice voucher program, violated the Ohio Constitution by funding private schools at the expense of public schools. The case is expected to be appealed in Ohio's Tenth District Court of Appeals. The program has remained active during litigation.[35]
- June 10, 2025: New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R) signed SB295 to remove income thresholds from New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account Program, making it available to all students regardless of income. The Education Freedom Account Program is an education savings account program.[36]
- May 6, 2025: Indiana Governor Mike Braun (R) signed HB 1001 to make Indiana's Choice Scholarship Program universal, meaning that every student in the state is eligible for a voucher. HB 1001 removed the income eligibility requirements from the Choice Scholarship Program.[37]
- May 3, 2025: Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed Texas Senate Bill (SB) 2, which created a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for private or homeschool education in the state.[38]
- April 23, 2025: North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong (R) vetoed House Bill (HB) 1540, which would've established a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for private or homeschool education in the state. Gov. Armstrong argued in his veto message that though he supported expanding school choice in the state, HB 1540 would only benefit a small sector of the student population. The North Dakota Legislature failed to override the veto.[39]
- April 18, 2025: Utah Third Judicial District Judge Laura Scott ruled that Utah's universal school choice program, titled Utah Fits All, violated the Utah Constitution. The court held that the state Constitution charges the Utah Legislature with establishing and maintaining free and public education, but but they cannot establish schools and programs that are not open to all the children of Utah or free from sectarian control. The program will continue to run until the Utah Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality.[40]
- March 4, 2025: Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed HB 199, expanding an income-restricted ESA program passed in 2024 to include all students. The expanded program provided $7,000 for students to spend on educational expenses outside of the public school system. The program also provided funding for pre-kindergarten for families making at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.[41]
- February 27, 2025: Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed HB 93, creating a universal refundable tax credit worth $5,000 for eligible families to use on private school tuition, tutoring, or homeschooling expenses. Families with special needs students could receive up to $7,500. The legislation capped the program at $50,000,000.[42][43][44]
- February 12, 2025: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed HB 6004, creating the Education Freedom Scholarship program.[45] The ESA program was set to provide 20,000 scholarships in its first year, each worth around $7,300, to defray the costs of private school tuition or other supplementary educational expenses.[46] Half the scholarship were reserved for students from families making 300% of the income qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, while the other half were available to all eligible students.[45]
- November 20, 2024: The North Carolina General Assembly voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of House Bill 10, which provided roughly $463 million for the state's Opportunity Scholarship voucher program.[47] Cooper vetoed the bill on September 20, 2024.[48] The Senate voted 30-19 to overturn Cooper's veto, while the House voted 72-44 to do the same.[49]
- November 5, 2024: Nebraska residents voted 57-43% to partially repeal Legislative Bill 1402, which authorized the state treasurer to administer an education scholarship program with a $10 million budget beginning in fiscal year 2024-2025. The referendum did not repeal the part of LB 1402 that repealed a previous tax credit enacted by LB 753 for qualifying taxpayers who contributed to scholarship-granting organizations for education scholarships for private schools.[50]
- September 11, 2024: The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that the state's 2023 Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program, an ESA program, violates the state constitution's prohibition on using taxpayer dollars to benefit private or religious schools.[51][52] The ruling only invalidated the part of the program allowing taxpayer funding to be used on private educational expenses. Qualified students accepted into out-of-district public schools could still use the funds to defray the cost of the transfer.[53]
- June 19, 2024: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed SB 313, establishing the LA Gator Scholarship Program, an ESA program for eligible students.[54][55]
- April 23, 2024: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed SB 233, creating the Georgia Promise Scholarship. The Georgia Promise Scholarship provided students zoned for the lowest-performing 25% of districts with $6,500 for private school tuition, tutoring services, and other expenses. The program prioritized students from families earning less than 400% of the federal poverty limit. The program was scheduled to go into effect in 2025.[56]
- March 21, 2024: Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed HB 166. The bill created an ESA program to provide $6,000 to students from families making less than 150% of the federal poverty limit. The bill originally allowed families making more than 150% of the federal poverty limit to apply for the program, but Gordon vetoed that provision.[57]
Related videos from Ballotpedia
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Ballotpedia covers: Impact of school choice on rural school districts and communities in Ohio
Josh Altic discusses private school choice programs and policy in Ohio with Clermont Northeastern School Board Member Julie Schmidt |
Ballotpedia covers: Options for school choice in rural communities
Josh Altic discusses options for school choice in rural communities with Educational Consultant Alisha Searcy |
Ballotpedia covers: Opportunities in educational choice submitted by Oklahoma State Representative Chad Caldwell (R)
| |
|
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
|
|
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
|
|
Ballotpedia covers: Introduction to school choice in rural Tennessee
Josh Altic discusses school choice in rural Tennessee with Kevin Cline, Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in rural East Tennessee |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ A District Court judge ruled on April 18, 2025, that Utah's universal school choice program, Utah Fits All, violated the Utah Constitution. The program will continue to run until the Utah Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality.
- ↑ A judge in Franklin County, Ohio, ruled that Ohio's EdChoice Scholarship, a universal school choice voucher program, violated the Ohio Constitution by funding private schools at the expense of public schools. The case is expected to be appealed in Ohio's Tenth District Court of Appeals.
- ↑ A Laramie County District Court judge instituted a preliminary injunction on Wyoming's universal Steamboat Legacy private school choice program, preventing payouts to families during litigation over the legality of the program. The program was enacted by the state legislature in March 2025 and set to begin on July 1, 2025, but was delayed on June 27, 2025, then temporarily blocked on July 15.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedRuralDef - ↑ EdChoice, "School Choice In America," accessed January 6, 2025
- ↑ Education Next, "What Is an Education Savings Account, and Why Does It Matter?" May 11, 2023
- ↑ American Experiment, "No, Education Savings Accounts are not the same as vouchers," April 28, 2021
- ↑ USA Facts, "From charter schools to tax credit scholarships: School choice explained," October 26, 2021
- ↑ EdChoice, "The Enrollment Decline Windfall," February 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Heritage Foundation, "Rustic Renaissance: Education Choice in Rural Areas," January 9, 2023
- ↑ Step Up for Students, "Rerouting the Myths of Rural Education Choice," November 29, 2022
- ↑ Education Trust, "How School Vouchers Hurt Rural Communities," October 2024
- ↑ Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, "Private School Vouchers are Especially Harmful to Rural Communities," January 2024
- ↑ Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, "The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky," July 2024
- ↑ EdChoice, "The 1-2-3s of School Choice," July 2023
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "School districts data (NCES): Public Geocode Data," accessed January 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "House Bill 164," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "House Bill 164," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Education Freedom, "Education Freedom Scholarship Explained - New Public Education Investments," accessed February 13, 2025
- ↑ Legiscan, "Texas Senate Bill 2," accessed February 13, 2025
- ↑ Legiscan, "Texas Senate Bill 2," accessed February 13, 2025
- ↑ 12 WBOY, "West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship Program to expand," accessed February 11, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Education Freedom, "Education Freedom Scholarship Explained - New Public Education Investments," accessed February 13, 2025
- ↑ Legiscan, "Texas Senate Bill 2," accessed February 13, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Education Freedom, "Education Freedom Scholarship Explained - New Public Education Investments," accessed February 13, 2025
- ↑ State Policy Network, "Lessons from Arizona: How States Can Improve ESA Programs for Families," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Monitor, "HB-1540-veto-message-signed," accessed May 12, 2025
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 YouTube - Ballotpedia, "Ballotpedia covers: Options for school choice in rural school districts - Alisha Searcy," accessed June 20, 2025
- ↑ Morning Consult, "The Public, Parents, and K-12 Education," March 2024
- ↑ The Center Square, "Poll: Voters support school choice measures," August 28, 2023
- ↑ Reuters/Ipsos, "Reuters/Ipsos Poll: Issues Survey March 2023," March 2023
- ↑ Monica Potts and Mary Radcliffe, "Politicians Want Universal School Vouchers. But What About The Public?" March 29, 2023
- ↑ KGAB, "Judge Blocks Wyoming’s School Choice Scholarship Program," accessed July 17, 2025
- ↑ Statehouse News Bureau, "Ohio's EdChoice private school vouchers ruled unconstitutional, but case is far from over," accessed June 25, 2025
- ↑ Legiscan, "New Hampshire Senate Bill 295," accessed June 11, 2025
- ↑ BillTrack50, "IN HB1001 - State Budget," accessed May 7, 2025
- ↑ Legiscan, "Texas Senate Bill 2," accessed May 5, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Monitor, "Armstrong vetoes North Dakota private school voucher bill, but signals support for competing bill," accessed May 1, 2025
- ↑ Utah News Dispatch, "Utah Fits All voucher program is ‘unconstitutional,’ district court rules," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ WyoFile, "Governor signs universal school voucher bill, calling it ‘remarkable achievement for Wyoming’," March 5, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Capital Sun, "Idaho Gov. Brad Little signs law that directs state funds to private school tuition," February 27, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Statesman, "Trump endorsed this contested Idaho bill. Gov. Little issued his decision on school vouchers," February 27, 2025
- ↑ The Lion, "Idaho Gov. signs school choice bill," February 27, 2025
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 The Lion, "Tennessee governor signs universal school choice bill after shrewd additions helped it pass," February 12, 2025
- ↑ Chalkbeat Tennessee, "Universal school voucher plan passes in Tennessee legislature," January 30, 2025
- ↑ The Center Square, "Universal school choice funding, ICE cooperation are law," November 20, 2024
- ↑ NC Governor Roy Cooper, "Joined by Education and Business Leaders from Both Parties, Governor Cooper Vetoes HB1," September 20, 2024
- ↑ Associated Press, "North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill," November 21, 2024
- ↑ Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska voters reject state funding for students attending private K-12 schools," November 5, 2024
- ↑ K-12 Dive, "South Carolina Supreme Court deals blow to private school scholarships," September 13, 2024
- ↑ Associated Press, "Court won’t allow public money to be spent on private schools in South Carolina," September 11, 2024
- ↑ The State, "SC Supreme Court blocks public funding of private schools, disappointing state leaders," September 12, 2024
- ↑ The Lion, "Universal school choice bill signed into law by Louisiana governor," June 19, 2024
- ↑ Office of the Governor Jeff Landry, "Governor Landry Signs “Dream Big” Education Plan into Law," June 19, 2024
- ↑ Fox 5 Atlanta, "Kemp signs Georgia school voucher bill amid controversy," April 23, 2024
- ↑ The Sheridan Press, "Governor signs state's first education savings account program into law, limits eligibility," March 25, 2024
