In an already astonishing year for advancing educational freedom, Pennsylvania closed out its legislative calendar by passing the largest expansion of Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs.
The political significance of Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signing a $150 million expansion to a private educational choice program with a split legislature, is noteworthy. With a few exceptions, nearly all school choice enactments and expansions to date nationwide have taken place under a red trifecta of the governor’s mansion and both legislative chambers. This is welcome affirmation for a movement that has long declared what we know is true — expanding educational options for families is not, nor should it be, a partisan issue. Rather, choice cuts across political, geographic and demographic lines.
Perhaps surprisingly, states are increasingly passing robust, universally eligible — rather than targeted — choice programs available to all or nearly all students. West Virginia and Arizona were the first states to go universal in 2022, followed by eight more states in 2023. Now 1 in 5 students lives in a state with universal or near universal choice.
Why are states increasingly pursuing choice for all, instead of choice for some?
› Parents want more options and choice is popular.
According to Morning Consult, 39% of parents would choose their regular public school, and 54% would choose some other school type, such as private school, charter school or home school. Some 52% of parents would prefer to educate their child at home at least one day per week. Black parents especially want this kind of flexibility—with 61% responding that they prefer at least one day of education per week in the home.
› Universally available programs create new markets — new schools and new providers.
Two years ago, you’d likely never heard the term “microschooling.” But with the advancement of broadly available education savings account programs in Arizona, West Virginia, and Florida, educators are increasingly seeking to enter the market to serve families in new ways — whether as school leaders, tutors, disability specialists, or other roles and providers.
› Hoops for administrators and families
More layers of targeted program eligibility create more work for families to apply, and more work for administrators to vet who qualifies. Proving low-income status creates a disincentive for families to apply, unfortunately deterring the very students the program is intended to help.
› Expanding choice benefits students, without harming students who remain in public schools
Arizona and Florida, longtime leaders in education reform, are also leaders in academic growth for low-income students and students with disabilities. As it turns out, it’s not just the wealthy that benefits. Rather, students with disadvantaged circumstances have been the ones that benefit from broad-eligibility systems.
And what about students who remain in public schools? Opponents often decry harm to the public school system. Yet, rigorous research finds that expanding choice programs in terms of funding and eligibility lead to not only increases in academic growth among public school students, but also reduced absenteeism and suspensions.
The best way to help marginalized students is not through targeted programs, but rather through universally eligible programs. And when any student is served well by any school, whether that be public, private, home school or something else, that’s a win worth celebrating.
Martin F. Lueken is director of the Fiscal Research and Education Center at EdChoice. Marc LeBlond is director of policy there.