More States Using Taxpayer Dollars to Help Families Pay For Private School
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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which parents and educators reconsidered their relationship with public schools, lawmakers all over the country have enthusiastically embraced state-funded voucher programs, which allocate public funds to students to attend private schools.
According to Chalkboard Review, an education-focused website, at least 10 states have implemented or expanded voucher programs and other forms of state-funded private education support this year. These states include Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Tennessee (pilot program).
However, in North Dakota, the Republican governor vetoed a similar plan, and bills proposing voucher programs were unsuccessful in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Texas, and Virginia.
According to EdChoice, a free-market organization that promotes public funding for private education, there are currently voucher and similar programs in 32 states and the District of Columbia. These programs often go by the name of "scholarship programs" in state legislation, but regardless of the name, they result in the transfer of public funds to private institutions. Some programs even support homeschooling.
Some states are now implementing what they refer to as "education savings accounts." These accounts are funded by the state for every student under 18, giving parents the freedom to spend the money on public, private, religious, or homeschooling expenses.
Certain voucher programs have experienced significant growth. Indiana’s private school voucher program, for instance, increased by 20% in the last school year, marking its largest boost in ten years. In Arizona, a voucher program estimated to cost $65 million for the upcoming school year is now projected to exceed $900 million due to an expected surge in applicants.
Supporters of these programs, mostly Republicans, claim that they enjoy broad public support. However, recent polls indicate that people’s opinions vary depending on the program’s specific details, the wording of survey questions, and who is conducting the poll.
Polls financed by pro-voucher advocacy groups or state Republican parties tend to show public favor for these programs in many states. Conversely, polls commissioned by Democratic-leaning teachers unions often reveal opposition among the public.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in March indicated that 36% of respondents supported vouchers, while 51% opposed them when asked if they backed laws that would allow government funds to be used for private and religious schools, even if it meant a reduction in funding for public schools.
Norín Dollard, a senior policy analyst at the Florida Policy Institute, a progressive think tank that opposes vouchers, stated that voucher programs would continue to be a significant focus in the legislative process across various states for the foreseeable future.
Several states dominated by Republicans have proceeded with voucher programs this year. For instance, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, signed a bill in March establishing a voucher program available to any family, regardless of income. This program is expected to allocate approximately $8,000 per student each year, which is more than what some private schools charge for annual tuition.
Consequently, some private schools have raised their tuition prices. However, after facing objections from parents following a report by the Tampa Bay Times, one Catholic school decided to reverse its decision to raise tuition. The newspaper mentioned that other schools are maintaining their decision to raise tuition, but did not disclose their names.
Dollard acknowledged that she was unsure which schools in Florida were proceeding with their plans to increase rates. However, she stated during a phone interview that her organization would continue to oppose the voucher system. She argued that many schools in Florida currently lack sufficient funding, and according to a recent analysis, the state ranks 44th in per-pupil spending among all states.
"If these schools were adequately funded from the start, we might not be facing a situation where students are inclined to leave public schools," Dollard expressed. "Public schools serve the greater good."
According to an annual Gallup poll on education trends, 55% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with K-12 education in the United States last year, an increase from 48% in 2020.
Robert Enlow, president of EdChoice, believes it is "fair and more equitable for money to follow families than to have the money allocated to only one type of school. Families shouldn’t have to pay twice – once in taxes and again in tuition. Is that fair?"
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds achieved success in getting the school choice program approved by the legislature, which can be arguably attributed to her efforts last fall in electing new Republican lawmakers who are supportive of vouchers after a previous voucher bill had failed. Following the passage of the measure, several private religious schools in Iowa increased their tuition fees, just like the situation in Florida.
In Utah, Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed a law in January that allocates $42 million to establish a statewide universal voucher program. Under this law, each student receives $8,000 to cover their private school tuition. The Utah Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, expressed its intention to challenge this law in court.
Most of the initiatives to implement or expand voucher programs have originated from conservative-led states. However, there are also liberal groups representing underserved communities who support the idea, as they have grown frustrated with the underperformance of public schools.
In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat and the first Black governor of the state, faced significant criticism earlier this year when he proposed reducing the state’s small voucher program for underprivileged children. Some of this criticism came from liberal Black organizations in Baltimore, who were upset with the long-standing deficiencies in public schools in the city and parents who desired alternative educational opportunities for their children.
Ralph E. Moore Jr., a respected Baltimore educator and activist, expressed his support for the students and others who demonstrated in Annapolis against the governor’s proposal in an article for the Baltimore Afro-American. He argued, "Isn’t it fair to allow some low-income children to access private schooling that would otherwise be beyond their reach? Furthermore, private educational institutions, despite not paying state taxes, indirectly decrease the number of children that the state government would be responsible for educating under federal and state laws."
Instead of cutting the program by $2 million as proposed by Governor Moore, the Maryland legislature reached a compromise and restored $1 million as part of the state’s budget.
Despite the setback, Governor Moore remains determined to reduce the program.
"I still believe that public funding should be directed towards public education," he stated in an email to Stateline. "I respect the General Assembly’s decision to allocate more funding for the program in the FY23 budget."
Kenya Campbell, President of the American Federation of Teachers-Maryland, supported the governor’s actions, describing the voucher program, known as BOOST, as "unproven, discriminatory, and wasteful."
This article was originally published by Stateline, a partner of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix.
Florida Phoenix is an independent entity within the States Newsroom network, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. For any inquiries, please contact Editor Diane Rado at info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
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