School choice policy ballot measures

Voters have decided on school choice policy ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, school choice policy includes measures related to education alternatives to traditional public schools. This includes charter schools, the use of public funds for private schooling or homeschooling, and related state constitutional issues. The topic is grouped within the education policy area.

This page provides information on:

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• Upcoming ballot measures
• Comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state

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Education policy

School choice policy

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

2026

1. California Establish Education Savings Account and Repeal Blaine Amendment Initiative (2026) - Potential
2. Missouri Prohibit Public Funding of Nonpublic Schools Amendment (2026) - Potential

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2026

1. California Establish Education Savings Account and Repeal Blaine Amendment Initiative (2026) - Potential
2. Missouri Prohibit Public Funding of Nonpublic Schools Amendment (2026) - Potential

2024

1. Colorado Amendment 80, Constitutional Right to School Choice Initiative (2024)
2. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, Allow State Funding for Non-Public Education Amendment (2024)
3. Nebraska Referendum 435, Private Education Scholarship Program Referendum (2024)

2018

1. Arizona Proposition 305, Expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Referendum (2018)

2016

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Annual Charter School Expansion Initiative (2016)

2012

1. Georgia Amendment 1, Provide for State Charter Schools Measure (2012)
2. Washington Initiative 1240, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (2012)

2007

1. Utah Referendum 1, Education Vouchers Program Measure (2007)

2004

1. South Dakota Amendment B, Authorize Transportation and Food Services to Both Public and Private Schools Measure (2004)
2. Washington Referendum 55, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (2004)

2000

1. California Proposition 38, School Voucher Program Initiative (2000)
2. Michigan Proposal 1, School Voucher Program Initiative (2000)
3. Washington Initiative 729, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (2000)

1998

1. Colorado Amendment 17, Income Tax Credit for Private Education Expenses and Restrict Nonpublic Education Regulations Initiative (1998)

1996

1. Washington Initiative 173, School Vouchers Program Measure (1996)
2. Washington Initiative 177, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (1996)

1994

1. Maine Question 8, Baxter School for the Deaf Safety Improvements Bond Measure (1994)

1993

1. California Proposition 174, School Voucher Program and Open Enrollment Initiative (1993)

1992

1. Colorado Amendment 7, School Voucher Program and Nonpublic Education Regulations Initiative (1992)

1990

1. Oregon Measure 11, Open Enrollment for Public Schools, Refundable Tax Credits for Non-Public Education, and Voter Approval for New Restrictions on Nonpublic Education Initiative (1990)

1988

1. Utah Initiative C, Refundable Income Tax Credit for Private and Homeschool Education Expenses Measure (1988)

1986

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Public Aid for Private Schools Amendment (1986)
2. South Dakota Amendment C, Public Textbook Loan for Nonpublic School Students Measure (1986)

1978

1. Michigan Proposal H, Education Voucher Program and School Funding Initiative (1978)

1976

1. Alaska Proposition 4, Public Funds for Student Financial Aid to Attend Private Education Institutions Amendment (1976)
2. Oklahoma State Question 521, Establish Institutions to Support the Deaf and Blind Amendment (April 1976)

1975

1. Washington HJR 19, State Financial Assistance for Students of Public, Private, and Religious Schools Amendment (1975)

1974

1. Maryland Question 14, State Funding for Nonpublic School Equipment, Materials, and Transportation Referendum (1974)

1972

1. Maryland Question 18, State Voucher Program Referendum (1972)
2. Nebraska Amendment 16, Educational Funds Amendment (May 1972)

1970

1. Michigan Proposal C, Prohibit Public Funds to Non-Public Schools Initiative (1970)
2. Nebraska Amendment 12, Financial Grants for Families of Students in Nonpublic Schools Measure (1970)

1967

1. Wisconsin Question 7, Transportation for Private School Students Amendment (April 1967)

1966

1. Nebraska Amendment 3, Contracts for Private Schools Amendment (1966)

1956

1. Alabama Amendment 2, Repeal Requirement for Public School System, Allow Private Entities to Operate Schools, and Permit Parents to Choose Schools Based on Race Measure (August 1956)
2. North Carolina Education Expense Grants and Local School Suspension Votes Amendment (September 1956)
3. Virginia Limited Constitutional Convention for Nonsectarian Private School Tuition Grants Measure (January 1956)

1954

1. Georgia Amendment 4, Authorize Public Education Grants to Citizens Measure (1954)
2. Mississippi Allow Legislature to Abolish Public Schools and Provide Funds for Non-Public Education Amendment (December 1954)

1946

1. Wisconsin Question 2, Transportation for Private School Students Amendment (1946)

1917

1. Massachusetts Prohibit Public Aid for Sectarian Schools Amendment (1917)

1906

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 300-301, Funding for Psychiatric Hospitals, Schools, and Prisons Referendum (June 1906)

1877

1. Minnesota Amendment 7, Prohibiting Use of Funds for Sectarian Schools Measure (1877)

Alabama

1. Alabama Amendment 2, Repeal Requirement for Public School System, Allow Private Entities to Operate Schools, and Permit Parents to Choose Schools Based on Race Measure (August 1956)

Alaska

1. Alaska Proposition 4, Public Funds for Student Financial Aid to Attend Private Education Institutions Amendment (1976)

Arizona

1. Arizona Proposition 305, Expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Referendum (2018)

California

1. California Establish Education Savings Account and Repeal Blaine Amendment Initiative (2026) - Potential
2. California Proposition 174, School Voucher Program and Open Enrollment Initiative (1993)
3. California Proposition 38, School Voucher Program Initiative (2000)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment 17, Income Tax Credit for Private Education Expenses and Restrict Nonpublic Education Regulations Initiative (1998)
2. Colorado Amendment 7, School Voucher Program and Nonpublic Education Regulations Initiative (1992)
3. Colorado Amendment 80, Constitutional Right to School Choice Initiative (2024)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 1, Provide for State Charter Schools Measure (2012)
2. Georgia Amendment 4, Authorize Public Education Grants to Citizens Measure (1954)

Kentucky

1. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, Allow State Funding for Non-Public Education Amendment (2024)

Maine

1. Maine Question 8, Baxter School for the Deaf Safety Improvements Bond Measure (1994)

Maryland

1. Maryland Question 14, State Funding for Nonpublic School Equipment, Materials, and Transportation Referendum (1974)
2. Maryland Question 18, State Voucher Program Referendum (1972)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Prohibit Public Aid for Sectarian Schools Amendment (1917)
2. Massachusetts Question 2, Annual Charter School Expansion Initiative (2016)
3. Massachusetts Question 2, Public Aid for Private Schools Amendment (1986)

Michigan

1. Michigan Proposal 1, School Voucher Program Initiative (2000)
2. Michigan Proposal C, Prohibit Public Funds to Non-Public Schools Initiative (1970)
3. Michigan Proposal H, Education Voucher Program and School Funding Initiative (1978)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 7, Prohibiting Use of Funds for Sectarian Schools Measure (1877)

Mississippi

1. Mississippi Allow Legislature to Abolish Public Schools and Provide Funds for Non-Public Education Amendment (December 1954)

Missouri

1. Missouri Prohibit Public Funding of Nonpublic Schools Amendment (2026) - Potential

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Amendment 12, Financial Grants for Families of Students in Nonpublic Schools Measure (1970)
2. Nebraska Amendment 16, Educational Funds Amendment (May 1972)
3. Nebraska Amendment 3, Contracts for Private Schools Amendment (1966)
4. Nebraska Referendum 435, Private Education Scholarship Program Referendum (2024)

North Carolina

1. North Carolina Education Expense Grants and Local School Suspension Votes Amendment (September 1956)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 521, Establish Institutions to Support the Deaf and Blind Amendment (April 1976)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 11, Open Enrollment for Public Schools, Refundable Tax Credits for Non-Public Education, and Voter Approval for New Restrictions on Nonpublic Education Initiative (1990)
2. Oregon Measure Nos. 300-301, Funding for Psychiatric Hospitals, Schools, and Prisons Referendum (June 1906)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Amendment B, Authorize Transportation and Food Services to Both Public and Private Schools Measure (2004)
2. South Dakota Amendment C, Public Textbook Loan for Nonpublic School Students Measure (1986)

Utah

1. Utah Initiative C, Refundable Income Tax Credit for Private and Homeschool Education Expenses Measure (1988)
2. Utah Referendum 1, Education Vouchers Program Measure (2007)

Virginia

1. Virginia Limited Constitutional Convention for Nonsectarian Private School Tuition Grants Measure (January 1956)

Washington

1. Washington HJR 19, State Financial Assistance for Students of Public, Private, and Religious Schools Amendment (1975)
2. Washington Initiative 1240, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (2012)
3. Washington Initiative 173, School Vouchers Program Measure (1996)
4. Washington Initiative 177, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (1996)
5. Washington Initiative 729, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (2000)
6. Washington Referendum 55, Authorize Charter Schools Measure (2004)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 2, Transportation for Private School Students Amendment (1946)
2. Wisconsin Question 7, Transportation for Private School Students Amendment (April 1967)

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Footnotes

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