Last week Reason.com published an update on school choice developments in the states.
Here’s the American Federation for Children on what Missouri’s change means: the new law creates a $25 million Education Savings Account program that provides eligible students $6,350 for educational expenses to attend the public, charter, virtual, private or home school of their choice
Eligible students include any student who attended public school in the previous year or is entering school for the first time.
Students with an Individualized Educational Program or with a family income below Free and Reduced Price Lunch levels would be given first preference; children in a family making less than 200% of Free and Reduced Price Lunch would be given second preference, and all other eligible students would come after them. Missouri’s $25 million program is funded by a 100% tax credit.
New Hampshire authorized Education Freedom Accounts, a savings account that can be used for authorized educational expenses only. The state deposits a student’s education grant into an approved savings account controlled by the parent. The parent may then choose to spend those funds on a list of approved educational expenses.
Qualified educational expenses include tuition and fees to private schools or other public schools, tuition and fees for non-public online learning programs, tutoring services, textbooks, instructional materials, computer hardware, internet connectivity, other tech services, school uniforms, and educational services.
The author is a Kirby resident and founder and vice-president of the Ethan Allen Institute.
Categories: Education
Thank you John – this is so encouraging! Maybe our state will go the distance for our students as well – one can only hope.
A PLUS for New Hampshire! VT will never go for it, as private/parochial schools generally teach respect, history, religion (if applicable), etc.
VT doesn’t want your kids being exposed to that.
Ms. Henry: Vermont has already ‘gone for it’ (School Choice) in grades 7 thru 12 at least. As a parent, you can request a voucher from your local school board. 16 V.S.A. Par. 822. It has the authority to grant you a tuition voucher, even to a religious school. Of course, you have to have a sympathetic school board. But it’s easier to elect board members than it is to elect State legislators.
Unfortunately, kids in elementary grades don’t have this option. Hopefully, State legislators will see light – or, one of several law suits pending in the Vermont courts will soon force their hand.
Keep the faith.