1 Million Students Now Using Private School Choice

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Press Release: For Immediate Release
June 18, 2024

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
Chantal Fennell, EdChoice
chantal@edchoice.org | 989-251-8388

1 Million Students Now Using Private School Choice
Families seizing opportunities created by new and expanded educational freedom program

Indianapolis, IN— After years of record growth in the creation of new school choice programs, EdChoice is proud to announce another milestone: Over 1 million students are now utilizing a private school choice program in the United States.

According to the most recent data available, 1,038,635 K–12 students are currently enrolled in an education savings account (ESA), voucher, tax-credit scholarship, tax-credit ESA, or refundable tax credit program. While some states provide data for the most recent school year, others lag behind, so actual participation is likely higher.

“When Milton and Rose Friedman founded EdChoice in 1996 to lead the way for universal education freedom, there were about 10,000 students participating in choice program,” said EdChoice President and CEO Robert Enlow. “Today, that number has grown a hundred-fold. Over 1 million students can learn in the environment of their family’s choosing thanks to policies that empower parents with the freedom and flexibility to be in the drivers’ seat of their child’s education.”

Participation in these programs has grown steadily in recent decades, with rapid growth taking off around 2020, and roughly doubling since. At the same time, policymakers across the country have been increasing student access to private school choice programs at record pace. In 2021, West Virginia created the nation’s first school choice program with universal eligibility, and the following year, Arizona made its ESA program available to all students. Today, 12 states offer educational choice programs for all or nearly all students. Nationwide, there are 75 school choice programs spread across 33 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

In all, nearly 22 million students, or 40%, now have access to a private school choice program in their state. With so many families only gaining eligibility to programs in the last couple years, participation is expected to rise.

“We know from survey data that parents aren’t getting what they want in their child’s learning environment,” Enlow said. “More than 60% say, if given the opportunity to choose something other than their local public school, they would. Yet, only about 20% are doing so. As states increase access to school choice programs, we know the gap in parent preferences and actual enrollment will continue to close, and students will be happier and more successful because of it.”

To speak with Robert Enlow, contact Chantal Fennell at Chantal@edchoice.org, or 989-251-8388.

EdChoice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Our mission is to advance educational freedom and choice for all as a pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. We are committed to understanding and pursuing a K–12 education ecosystem that empowers every family to choose the learning environment that fits their children’s needs best. Learn more at edchoice.org.

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Vice President of Communications

Chantal Fennell

Vice President of Communications

Chantal is the Vice President of Communications at EdChoice, where she directs the organization’s communications efforts, and manages its brand and public relations. Prior to joining the EdChoice team, Chantal served as the Director of Policy Advancement at the State Policy Network, where she worked with state-based organizations to advance policy reforms. Before that, Chantal worked as the communications manager at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan, and as the Nevada Policy Research Institute’s communications director. Prior to beginning her career in the policy advocacy movement, Chantal was a journalist in California, where she received awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for investigative reporting, economic reporting, and features writing. During her time as a reporter, Chantal authored an exposé that resulted in the creation of one of the nation’s first-ever curriculum for high school students with high-functioning autism. Chantal was born and raised in Southern California, earned a Bachelors in Government from the University of Redlands and a Masters Political Science from the University of Nebraska.

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