Education freedom empowers parents with access to a portion of their child’s education funding to allocate to the educational avenue of their choosing rather than being restricted to the government-run, teacher union-controlled, residentially-assigned district public school. Education freedom is essential so parents can select the learning avenue that will best serve their unique children.

The prolonged public school closures were a catalyst for the rapid and far-reaching expansion of education freedom. As of 2020, fewer than 1% of children in our country had access to school choice unless their parents could homeschool or had thousands of dollars a year to allocate toward private school tuition. Today, more than 50% of children in America are eligible for a school choice program, and 16 states have enacted universal school choice—meaning all K-12 students statewide qualify.

Universal school choice creates a free market K-12 education environment within a state. It brings in the element of competition, incentivizing providers to offer families high-quality academics with good customer service. The conditions of a free market increase quality, drive down costs, and spur innovation. All of these are much-needed in K-12 education today.

While 16 states now have universal school choice, much work must be done to ensure every child in America has the opportunity to have the best educational environment that will prepare them for life. The reality that education sets the trajectory of an individual’s life cannot be overstated.

The states yet to enact universal school choice—and in too many states, no school choice at all—are as follows:

  1. Alaska
  2. California
  3. Colorado
  4. Connecticut 
  5. Delaware
  6. Georgia
  7. Hawaii
  8. Illinois
  9. Kansas
  10. Kentucky
  11. Maine
  12. Maryland
  13. Massachusetts
  14. Michigan
  15. Minnesota
  16. Mississippi
  17. Missouri
  18. Montana
  19. Nebraska
  20. Nevada
  21. New Hampshire
  22. New Jersey
  23. New Mexico
  24. New York
  25. North Dakota
  26. Oregon
  27. Pennsylvania
  28. Rhode Island
  29. South Carolina
  30. South Dakota
  31. Vermont
  32. Virginia
  33. Washington
  34. Wisconsin

As recent as five years ago, statewide education freedom was a far-fetched idea to most people. Yet, with 16 states signing it into law in four years, it shows what is possible with excellent leadership, political will, and the voices of moms and dads. Universal school choice can and must become a reality in these remaining states.

Click HERE to listen to Dr. Keri D. Ingraham’s interview on the Virtuous Leaders Podcast, or watch below.