The U.S. Supreme Court will consider establishing the country’s first religious charter school next week. This could have a significant impact on school selection across the country.
While the majority of states have implemented some form of school selection in recent years, only a few have adopted programs that employ private school selections that make it universally available to K-12 students.
Here is the complete list and timeline of recent school selection movements:
Tennessee AG optimistic about Scotus incident after the reversal of “radical gender ideology” in lower courts
Our map offering a universal private school selection program. (Fox News)
Alabama
Alabama passed the Choice Act in 2024. This will establish an Educational Savings Account (ESA) that will soon be open to all families in the state.
Arizona
Arizona became the first state to offer a universal school choice for all families in 2022, launching a $800 million program that gives $7,000 for children’s tuition fees.
Arkansaud
Arkansas SB 294 establishes an established selection programme open to all students, regardless of income or disability status.
Accounts allow families to spend state money not only on tuition fees, but also on other approved expenses such as tuition, online courses, and educational materials.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee told Fox News Digital that the universal school choice proposal was not intended to ignore the need to support state public schools. (Tennessee Governor’s Office)
Florida
Passed in 2023, Florida HB 1 established a selection programme open to all students, regardless of income or disability status.
Accounts allow families to spend state money not only on tuition fees, but also on other approved expenses such as tuition, online courses, and educational materials.
Idaho
Idaho has launched its first private school selection program through a refundable tax credit. Families can receive up to $5,000 per child for private education costs, while students with disabilities can take advantage of $7,500. The program will reach $50 million a year and prioritize families who earn up to 300% of federal poverty levels (approximately $96,450 for a family of four).
Supreme Court to determine whether families can opt out of reading LGBTQ books in classrooms
Iowa
Passed in 2023, Iowa’s HF 68 established a selection programme open to all students, regardless of income or disability status.
Accounts allow families to spend state money not only on tuition fees, but also on other approved expenses such as tuition, online courses, and educational materials.
Indiana
The Indiana Choice Scholarship program grants vouchers to eligible K-12 students who can direct them to private school tuition fees.
To qualify, students must be Indiana resident and a member of a household that provides “annual income of less than 400% of the amount to qualify for the federal free, discounted lunch program.”
A sign in the grass during a rally celebrating National School Choice Week on January 24, 2024 at Halifax Mall in front of the legislative building in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Montana
Montana has two major school selection programs, only one of which is universally available. The more restricted program is a standard ESA, but students must have special needs or other forms of disabilities to qualify.
According to EDChoice, the broader program is “a statewide tax credit scholarship program that allows individuals and businesses to claim a 100% tax credit on contributions to approved student scholarship organizations.
The average scholarship value for participating students is $2,190.
North Carolina
North Carolina has a major voucher program available to all students across the state, but is limited by budget caps.
Qualified students will obtain an average voucher value of $5,701 for private school tuition fees, transportation, equipment, or other expenses related to school traffic.
Once your baseline eligibility is met, the voucher will be granted based on your household income.
Ohio
The Ohio School Selection Program awards eligible students $6,166 and $8,408 for K-8 grades in grades 9-12.
Students must meet one of a series of qualifications to win the award, and parents must submit income information.
Oklahoma
Like Montana, Oklahoma will employ a tax credit system to allow for school selection in the state.
“The Oklahoma Parents Selection Tax Credit provides parents of private school students with a refundable tax credit of a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $7,500 per child to cover the costs of tuition and fees for private schools.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott will talk to students, parents and staff at Nolan Catholic High School on April 19, 2023 about school choice plans (Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Tennessee
Tennessee passed the 2025 Education Freedom Act and created the Universal ESA program. Families receive $7,000 per student. This should be used first for tuition fees, but can also cover other education expenses. The program starts with 20,000 scholarships, with half being reserved for family and disabled students who earn up to 300% of the free, low-cost lunch threshold. If at least 75% of the scholarship is awarded, the cap will increase to 25,000 students in 2026.
Yuta
Passed in 2023, Utah HB 215 established a selection programme open to all students, regardless of income or disability status.
Accounts allow families to spend state money not only on tuition fees, but also on other approved expenses such as tuition, online courses, and educational materials.
West Virginia
West Virginia has adopted the ESA program to allow universal school choices for private schools, and according to Edchoice, there is also “intra-district and inter-regional public school choices through open registration.”
The ESA program will give an average of $4,299 for private school tuition fees.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Wyoming
Wyoming passed HB 199 in 2025, expanding its ESA program by removing income restrictions and making it completely universal between 2025 and 26. The renamed Steamboat Legacy Scholarship program offers families $7,000 and is funded through a $30 million budget. Participating students should assess academic progress.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter for Fox News Digital, covering national politics and major broken news events. Submit your tip to anders.hagstrom@fox.com or via Twitter: @hagstrom_anders.
Source link
