The universal education choice boom

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Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed her education savings account (ESA) program into law this month, making history not only in the Natural State but across the country. This is the third ESA program passed in the U.S. in as many months this year. Importantly, each of these new programs will be available to all students rather than a targeted few, making this the greatest year for universal choice we have seen.

The Arkansas Learns Act establishes an ESA program providing families the funds they need to access the learning environment that’s right for them. Beginning this coming school year, participating students will receive 90% of what the state spends per pupil — initially amounting to approximately $6,600 — to spend on qualified education expenses, such as tuition, curriculum, and technology. Eligibility will be phased in during the first three years, with all students being eligible by 2025.

Just two years ago, no states had universal school choice programs. Now, five states — Arkansas, Arizona, Iowa, Utah, and West Virginia — have passed policies to guarantee education freedom for every family. Several other states, such as Texas, are considering similar proposals.

This hunger for more options across the country comes as no surprise, considering the recent data on student performance. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) released its annual report in November, and the results show devastating results for America’s children. In math, scores regressed back to 2003 levels, and in reading, scores regressed back to 1992 levels. This represents learning loss measured not just in years but decades.

Parental engagement is also changing the education landscape. In November, a Walton Family Foundation poll found that 72% of voters say improving K-12 education should be a top priority for state lawmakers. Similarly, according to EdChoice’s 2022 Schooling in America Survey, 76.1% of people favor ESAs, with support higher for universal than targeted programs. Among parents with school-age children, support for ESAs is even higher, with 81.3% indicating their support.

Parents are demanding broad-based educational choice in American education, and it is shaking up the political status quo. Consider Arizona’s school choice journey. For more than 20 years, Arizona has offered targeted tax-credit scholarship programs. For more than 10 years, it has offered targeted ESA programs. It has also offered open enrollment and charter schools.

It was not until last year that Arizona finally unveiled a universal program. But even with its prior targeted approach, the benefit of school choice on Arizona’s students was obvious. Between 2009 and 2015, for example, Arizona students were the only state group to experience statistically significant gains in all fourth and eighth-grade reading, math, and science NAEP exams.

Educational choice is rapidly becoming an important and powerful issue for families. People have never responded well to the government telling them what to do and where to do it, and finally, this is starting to be realized in American education. Parents have awakened to the possibilities of educational freedom and choice. They won’t be going back.

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Ed Tarnowski is a state policy associate at EdChoice.

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Tags: Opinion, Beltway Confidential, Blog Contributors, Opinion, Education, School Choice, Arkansas

Original Author: Ed Tarnowski

Original Location: The universal education choice boom