Milton and Rose Friedman envisioned a future where every family could choose the learning environment that best fits their child. Achieving that vision requires more than simply creating school choice programs. A truly universal program must meet three standards:
All Students — Every student is eligible.
All Options — Families have broad flexibility in how they may use education funds.
All Dollars — Programs are funded through predictable, sustainable revenue streams.
The following states offer fully universal school choice programs that are available to all students, permit families to use funds on all options, and have a non-capped source of funding that is consistent and sustainable, providing funding to any eligible student that wishes to participate in the program.
All K–12 students in the following states qualify to participate in a choice program. Nineteen states offer a school choice program to all students. Programs that will automatically become universal after a phase-in period are included.
12 Education savings account programs
1 Tax credit education savings account program
2 Refundable tax credit programs
3 Voucher programs
4 Tax-credit scholarship programs
1 Other program
The states below allow families wide flexibility in how they may spend program funds. EdChoice considered the 15 most common educational expenses, and states permitting a majority of those uses are considered to have programs with universal options. Programs that require families to spend on tuition first were excluded, unless the state offers multiple programs that can work in partnership to achieve this standard. Eighteen states have programs with universal options.
20 Education savings account programs
3 Tax credit education savings account programs
Programs considered universally funded are those where the non-capped source of funding is consistent and sustainable and either provided through the state’s funding formula, education budget, general revenue streams, or an ongoing appropriation with an automatic escalator provision to meet demand. Nineteen states plus Puerto Rico have programs with universal funding.
10 Education savings account programs
1 Tax credit education savings account program
18 Voucher programs
1 Other program
