(The Center Square) – While many states expanded and adopted school choice programs in 2024, some advocates are excited about new education options for families in 2025 – made possible because of this year’s election results.
According to EdChoice, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding school choice options, five states created new school choice programs, and six states expanded their programs in 2024. And 2025 holds promise for new programs in states like Texas, where school-choice advocates won seats in the legislature.
Ed Tarnowski, policy and advocacy director at EdChoice, said that in 2024, five states created new school choice programs and six expanded existing ones.
“The new ones were Alabama, which got a universal eligibility program, and Louisiana, which also got a program with universal eligibility,” Tarnowski said. “We also saw states that passed more limited programs. Georgia passed a new ESA program that has limited eligibility.”
Tarnwoski said Nebraska created a new program, but it was overturned by a ballot measure in November.
“It’s essentially defunct, but that would have been one of the five that created a new program,” Tarnowski explained.
“Wyoming also created a new program this year,” Tarnowski said. “They created their first ESA program.”
Tarnowski said there were expansions in Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and North Carolina.
Utah was a big expansion, Tarnowski said, because the state doubled the program’s funding, doubling the number of students eligible for the program. In North Carolina, the Legislature overrode the governor’s veto on legislation to expand its school choice program.
During the election, Tarnowski said school choice was a central issue in the swing state of New Hampshire. Republicans made universal school choice a central issue and saw gains in the state capitol.
Tarnowski said successful incumbent candidates in the state had voted to expand school choice, and many legislative newcomers had campaigned on expansion.
Tarnowski said New Hampshire is in a position to achieve true universal choice this year, especially because every student is already guaranteed funding. The state legislature would not have to pass new appropriations laws or alter funding caps, Tarnowski said.
Doing so would make them “one of the five truly universal states,” Tarnowski said.
Looking ahead, Tarnowski noted that Texas, because of the election of candidates backed by Gov. Greg Abbott, could achieve a universal school program next year.
“Texas does not have any type of private school choice program right now, and this might finally be the year,” Tarnowski said.
Tarnowski said Texas would be a huge win for school choice advocates because it would “give so many students access to choice and really increase, nationally, the number of kids that are eligible for choice.”
Additionally, Tarnowski is expecting movement on school choice measures in Tenessee, Idaho, North Dakota and South Carolina during 2025.
• This story first published at Chalkboard News which, like The Center Square, is published by the Franklin News Foundation.
