In the News: School Choice Edition
This content originally appeared in the Put Kids First ND newsletter on Jan. 15, 2025.
Education choice is trending in the states this month
“Lawmakers in nine states introduced bills to expand or improve private school choice options (Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee), charter school options (Florida and Iowa) and open enrollment options (Missouri).” –ExcelinEd
DeSantis says more than 500,000 Florida students are on school
vouchers
Florida students now account for about ⅓ of all students throughout the country who are enrolled in school choice programs. >>> read the story
Iowa Catholic schools see enrollment jump as more students
embrace education savings accounts (ESAs)
Under Iowa’s program, parents and caregivers can apply for approximately $7,600 from the state to cover private school costs, including tuition. >>> read the story
New polling from the National School Choice Awareness Foundation shows that “parent demand for K–12 education options remained strong in 2024 and parent awareness of their options is greater than in previous years.”
60% of parents said they considered new or different schools for at least one of their kids, while 60% of parents said that they had discussed school choice within the last week or month, a 9% increase since January 2024. Read more >>
Student Testimony: Aidan Sash, IA
“My mom struggled to make sure I could attend [my high school] all four years. But in my junior year, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds passed the state’s Education Savings Account program. In my senior year, I received a scholarship, and finally, my mom didn’t have to work two jobs. I finally got to see my mom more often, and I was able to cherish my time with her. Last year, I graduated my high school with honors and now attend Iowa State University for Mechanical Engineering. Because of school choice, my mom gets to see me grow through my education and that her sacrifices were worth it.”
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for our next edition of the latest school choice news, polling, and testimonies that you need to know.
This content originally appeared in the Put Kids First ND newsletter on Jan. 15, 2025.