Released: 10/1/2005
Author(s): Greg Forster, Ph.D.
This report documents the procedures parents must go through to participate in each of the 14 school choice programs that were then fully operational, evaluating the procedures of each program as “excellent,” “good,” “fair” or “poor.” It also collects, for the first time in one place, historical data on participation in each school choice program, and estimates participation rates over time for each program.
Programs
Enacted 2003 • Launched 2004
Ohio students on the autism spectrum may receive vouchers for education services from a
private provider, including tuition at a private school. After participating students receive
education services, they apply to the state for reimbursement of expenses.
Enacted 1995 • Launched 1996
Parents in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District can receive vouchers to send their
children to private school or public schools bordering the school district. No more than half of
new recipients may be students previously enrolled in private schools.
Enacted 2006 • Launched 2006
Arizona provides a credit on corporate income taxes for donations to School Tuition
Organizations (STOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships. Corporate taxpayers
contributing to STOs may claim a tax credit equal to the full amount of their contribution. The
program is limited to a total of $10 million in available tax credits per year, a figure that is
allowed to rise 20 percent annually.
Enacted 1987 • Launched 1987
Iowa provides parents of students in any private or public school a tax credit covering
educational expenses, including tuition, books, and lab or activity fees. The credit is worth a
maximum of $250.
Enacted 2001 | Began Operation 2001
Pennsylvania provides tax credits for corporate contributions to Scholarship Organizations,
nonprofits that provide private school scholarships, or Educational Improvement
Organizations, nonprofits that support innovative programs in public schools. Tax credits
are worth 75 percent of the contribution; however, a 90 percent credit can be claimed if the
corporation commits to two consecutive annual contributions. In either case, the maximum
tax credit is $400,000 per company, while in 2013 and beyond, the maximum is $750,000 per
company. Credits are awarded to companies on a first-come, first-served basis until the cap is
reached. The total amount of tax credits is limited to $60 million.
Enacted 2001 • Launched 2001
Florida provides a tax credit on corporate income taxes and insurance premium taxes for
donations to Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs), nonprofits that provide private
school scholarships for low-income students and foster care children and offer funds for
transportation to public schools outside a child’s district. Businesses get a dollar-for-dollar tax
credit for SFO contributions, with total credits capped at $229 million. Unused credits can be
carried forward to the next fiscal year.
Enacted as a Pilot Program 1999 • Expanded 2000
Florida’s John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program allows public
school students with disabilities or 504 plans to receive vouchers to attend private schools or
another public school.
Launched 1955 (Deduction) and 1997 (Credit)
Minnesota provides a tax credit and deduction covering educational expenses for students in any
private or public school, including homeschooling. Both cover books, tutors, academic after-school
programs, and other non-tuition educational expenses. The deduction includes tuition payments at
private schools; the credit does not.
Enacted 1990
Milwaukee families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines qualify to
receive vouchers. Once a student receives a voucher, that student is able to keep it, regardless
of his or her family’s future income. Voucher students are allowed to attend any participating
private school in the state.
Enacted 2004 • Launched 2004
The District of Columbia’s Opportunity Scholarship Program provides vouchers to lowincome
students. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the program is funded
separately from D.C. public schools. It is authorized through 2016, with $20 million in total
available funding.
Enacted 1999 • Launched 2000
Illinois provides individual tax credits covering educational expenses for students in any
private or public school, including tuition, books, and lab or activity fees. The credit is worth
a maximum of $500.
Launched 1873
Many small towns in Maine do not operate high schools, and some do not have elementary schools.
Students in those towns are eligible for vouchers to attend public schools in other towns or non-religious
private schools, even outside the state. The “sending” towns pay tuition directly to the “receiving”
schools. Although most towns allow parents to choose which schools will receive their students, some
towns send all their students to one school.
Launched 1869
Many small towns in Vermont do not operate high schools, and some do not have elementary
schools. Students in those towns are eligible for vouchers to attend public schools in other
towns or non-religious private schools, even those outside the state. The “sending” towns pay
tuition directly to the “receiving” schools. For 2012-13, tuition amounts were $11,119 for grades
K-6 and $12,461 for grades 7-12. The Vermont Department of Education’s calculations show
an average of $13,958 being spent on per-pupil tuition. Although most towns allow parents
to choose which schools will receive their students, some towns send all their students to one
school.