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LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION National The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 19 in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, a case arising out of Missouri that could remove a major impediment to educational choice found in many state constitutions. So-called “Blaine Amendments” have restrictive language about state funds being used by religious institutions, […]
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Arizona SB 1431, a bill that would expand the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to near-universal eligibility, was introduced to the Arizona legislature last month. The bill was referred to both the Senate Education Committee and the Rules Committee. Arkansas HB 1222, a bill that would create a tax credit-funded education savings account program, […]
Arizona – Michael Chartier @mchart1 In a 17–13 vote, the Arizona Senate passed SB 1279, a bill that would expand the state’s education savings account (ESA) eligibility. The bill then made its way to the House where it has been referred to both the Education and Rules committees. Kansas – Michael Chartier @mchart1 The Kansas […]
Lawmakers in Tennessee are currently considering legislation to create a modest school voucher program. Students from low-income families assigned to the “lowest-performing” district schools who had been enrolled in that school or were entering a Tennessee school for the first time would be eligible for scholarships worth up to the amount of per-pupil spending at […]
National The Friedman Foundation joined with students, parents, educators, and advocates across the United States in celebrating National School Choice Week. As part of the week’s events, we released the 2016 edition of The ABCs of School Choice. Arizona – Michael Chartier @mchart1 Two companion bills, HB 2482 and SB 1279, were introduced. The […]
National Leslie Hiner participated as a panelist in American Enterprise Institute’s event, “With all deliberate speed: Brown v. Board of Education II 60 years later.” She spoke on the successes, challenges, and next steps for integration in schools. Also at the event, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice Senior Fellow Dr. Ben Scafidi presented findings from […]
National Education Next released its ninth annual survey on K–12 education, “The 2015 EdNext Poll on School Reform: Public thinking on testing, opt out, Common Core, unions and more,” by Michael B. Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. The report also includes an interactive site of poll results. The Center for Education Reform […]
Delaware – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9 An education savings account (ESA) bill for students with special needs will soon be introduced in Delaware. The bill is expected to have bipartisan support. Delaware’s legislative session ends June 30. Nevada – Michael Chartier @mchart1 A universal ESA bill, SB 302, was passed by the legislature at the end […]
Arkansas – Brittany Corona @BrittanyLCorona On April 8, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Arkansas’ first school choice program into law, making it the 25th state (plus Washington D.C.) to enact a private school choice program. The signature of HB 1552 created the Succeed Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, which allows students who have attended public school […]
We are excited to soon welcome Tennessee to the school choice family. Tennessee is on the verge of joining Arkansas and Nevada, two of our nation’s newest school choice states, by becoming the 27th state to enact its first school choice program. Having worked with dedicated policymakers and parents in Tennessee for many years, we are […]