Missouri lawmakers are considering expanding the state鈥檚 private school voucher program with proposals to open eligibility and remove demands on private schools who accept voucher funds.

But the program, which has spent a majority of the $50 million it received in state funding this fiscal year, may lack room to grow with Gov. Mike Kehoe proposing only a small bump for MOScholars alongside a .

MOScholars uses state money, funded directly in the state budget and indirectly through tax-credit donations, to subsidize K-12 education outside a student鈥檚 local public school. The program is . But some homeschool families use the funds to buy supplies, and a couple students have used the funds to enroll in neighboring public schools.

The program is in its fourth year and provides scholarships to over 6,000 students, thanks in large part to .

State Treasurer Vivek Malek, whose office oversees MOScholars, wants to keep the momentum going this upcoming fiscal year. His in its budget request for the program, seeking to provide funding for 13,000 students next school year.

Kehoe, who lauded the program鈥檚 success in his State of the State speech Tuesday, budgeted $60 million in state funds to MOScholars.

鈥淭his program is working,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd Missouri families are counting on it.鈥�

Malek鈥檚 office has already spent nearly $40 million on scholarships this fiscal year, according to the Missouri Accountability Portal. Most students with MOScholars funding return the next year, so without funding above and beyond last year鈥檚 appropriation, the program will not be able to offer scholarships to many new students.

Despite this funding challenge, the Senate Education Committee appears poised to prioritize MOScholars expansion.

State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville, chairs the committee and has spoken in strong support of MOScholars. His children attend Summit Christian Academy, a school that in its first three years.

Among the first bills Brattin selected for a hearing Tuesday was a , a Republican from Cape Fair, to open eligibility to students already enrolled in private schools.

In the bill鈥檚 fiscal note, the treasurer鈥檚 office warns the legislation would 鈥渟ignificantly increase the amount of funding needed for the program.鈥�

Currently, eligibility for MOScholars is multi-pronged.

Students with an individualized education plan, which public schools administer to students with disabilities requiring accommodations, can apply without restrictions on family income. Students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch are eligible as long as they have attended public school for at least one semester in the past year or are entering kindergarten or first grade. Siblings of MOScholars recipients are also eligible.

Heather Smith, a mother from Cass County, told the committee the expansion would help families like hers. She told them about her son, who struggled in the local public school but 鈥渢hrived鈥� with the smaller classroom size at Summit Christian Academy.

鈥淭he financial strain has been absolutely crushing to our family,鈥� she said.

This school year, her family couldn鈥檛 afford the private school tuition. But since her son has been out of public school for over a year, he doesn鈥檛 qualify for MOScholars.

鈥�(School) should absolutely be a parent鈥檚 choice,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淎nd that choice should not bring a family so far underwater financially that there is little to no way out.鈥�

The bill also seeks to expand eligibility to students with disabilities diagnosed by a medical provider, but it does not define disability nor specify what types of conditions would be covered.

In addition to expanding program eligibility, Hudson鈥檚 bill would require judges to allow organizations representing parents to intervene in cases challenging the MOScholars statute. Currently, EdChoice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for school vouchers and similar programs, in a to fund MOScholars.

Hudson鈥檚 bill also seeks to bar administrative rules that would place requirements on schools accepting MOScholars students.

The Missouri House is not set to move MOScholars bills early in the legislative session, with its education committee concentrating on matters affecting public schools.

Moberly Republican state Rep. Ed Lewis, the committee chairman and a former public school teacher, said in the committee鈥檚 first meeting Wednesday that he is focusing on teacher certification and retention, literacy and transparency and accountability in public education.

The committee will consider bills outside of these topics, he said, adding: 鈥淲e want to make sure that we focus on those things this session to try to move education in Missouri forward.鈥�

Some bills seek to reign in MOScholars, adding requirements for private schools to be eligible to receive program funds.

A filed by state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Democrat from Kansas City, would require charter schools and private schools accepting MOScholars funds to follow accreditation and accountability measures set by the state, among other requirements.

Similarly, a by state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, private schools with MOScholars students would be required to follow safety requirements, like teaching CPR in high schools and screening for dyslexia.

鈥淚f a school is being supported with state dollars, then I think it鈥檚 important that the state takes responsibility for the safety of those students, just like they would a public school student,鈥� Boyko told The Independent.

He filed the bill last year, but it did not get a hearing. If MOScholars legislation makes it to the full House, Boyko said, he is open to adding his legislation as an amendment.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com.

Gov. on Saturday signed legislation authorizing a private school voucher program into law, marking the grand finale of an oftentimes ugly conflict that has largely defined Texas politics this decade.

will allow families to use public taxpayer dollars to fund their children鈥檚 education at an accredited private school or to pay for a wide range of school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation or therapy. The program will be one of the largest school voucher initiatives in the nation.

鈥淲hen I ran for reelection in 2022, I promised school choice for the families of Texas. Today, we deliver on that promise,鈥� said Abbott during the bill’s signing before hundreds of applauding supporters gathered outside the Governor’s Mansion. 鈥淕one are the days that families are limited to only the school assigned by government. The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school that鈥檚 best for their child.鈥�

The law will go into effect on Sept. 1, with the program expected to launch in late 2026.

The law鈥檚 passage follows years of discord in the Legislature over school vouchers. The Democrats and rural Republicans who fought against it argued that the program would harm already-struggling public schools, a major employer for working families and a resource center for many Texas students 鈥� the majority of whom reside in low-income households.

鈥淩emember this day next time a school closes in your neighborhood,鈥� state Rep. , D-Austin, said a few hours before at a news conference with other voucher opponents. 鈥淩emember this day next time a beloved teacher quits because they can’t support their family on their salary. Remember this day next time your local property taxes rise because the state government is not doing its fair share of school funding. And if recession comes and we are forced to make even deeper cuts to public education, remember this day.鈥�

Top Republicans like Abbott and Lt. Gov. have forcefully rebutted, saying parents needed more schooling options for their children in the face of COVID-19 health restrictions and frustrations with public schools鈥� efforts to foster a more inclusive environment for all students. They have insisted that a voucher program and the state鈥檚 public education system can coexist.

Those arguments came as voucher programs in other states have largely benefited who already had their kids enrolled in private schools and led to for students.

Here鈥檚 a breakdown of how the program will work.

Families can receive about $10,000 to send their children to private school on taxpayers鈥� dime

Most participating families will receive an amount equal to 85% of what public schools get for each student through state and local funding 鈥� roughly somewhere between $10,300 and $10,900 per year for each child, according to a , which included financial projections for the next five years.Children with disabilities are eligible for the same funding as other students, plus up to $30,000 in additional money, an amount based on what the state would spend on special education services for that student if they attended a public school. Home-schoolers can receive up to $2,000 per year.

The money will flow to families through education savings accounts, which essentially function as state-managed bank accounts. In Arizona, for example, which has a program similar to the one Texas is rolling out, families can make education-related purchases through an online platform by the software company .

Texas will spend $1 billion on vouchers in the first two years, but costs could skyrocket

The state can spend no more than $1 billion on the program during the state鈥檚 next two-year budget cycle, which begins Sept. 1, 2025, and ends Aug. 31, 2027.

It is not clear how much the program鈥檚 costs will rise after the spending cap expires 鈥� lawmakers will likely make that determination in future legislative sessions 鈥� but state budget experts that the tab could escalate to roughly $4.8 billion by 2030.

Most families can participate, including some of the wealthiest Texans

Almost any school-age child in Texas can apply for and participate in the voucher program, including students already attending private schools. Up to 20% of the program鈥檚 initial $1 billion budget could flow to wealthier families who earn 500% or more of the poverty rate 鈥� roughly $160,000 or above for a family of four.

Families cannot have their children simultaneously enrolled in the program and a public school. The program excludes students whose parents cannot prove their child is a U.S. citizen. Lawmakers are also considering that would bar the kids of any statewide elected official from signing up for the program.

If public demand for the voucher program exceeds the funding available, it will prioritize applicants in this order:

• Students with disabilities from families with an annual income at or below 500% of the federal poverty level, which includes any four-person household earning less than roughly $160,000
• Families at or below 200% of the poverty level, which includes any four-person household earning less than roughly $64,300
• Families between 200% and 500% of the poverty level
• Families at or above 500% of the poverty level (limited to 20% of the program鈥檚 budget)

The voucher program also prioritizes students exiting public schools over kids already in private ones.

The priority system does not guarantee access to the program, however. The legislation does not require participating schools to change their admissions processes, meaning they can still deny entry to any student they determine does not meet their standards. Private schools are also not required to follow state or federal laws regarding accommodations for students with disabilities.

The program launches next year, but other specifics are still unclear

The voucher program will officially launch at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

The comptroller 鈥� the state鈥檚 chief financial officer, who will oversee the program 鈥� has until May 15, 2026, to establish the rules and procedures it must follow. In addition to setting up the application process for Texans who want to enroll their children, the finance chief will select up to five organizations that will help Texas administer the program.

Private schools can choose whether they want to participate. The law requires participating schools to and to have operated for at least two years.

Participating students won鈥檛 have to take the STAAR test

Enrolled students must take a nationally recognized exam of the private school鈥檚 choosing. Private schools, however, are not required to administer the same standardized tests currently issued to public school kids each year 鈥� the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.

The state must produce an annual report that includes data on participants鈥� test results, satisfaction with the program, and college and career readiness. It will include information on how the program affects public and private school enrollment. Lawmakers will also get a report every year with demographic data on each participating child, including students鈥� age, sex, race or ethnicity and zip code.

State officials will also be required to work with a private auditor responsible for helping ensure program participants follow the law. The bill directs the state to suspend the accounts of people not in compliance with the legislation鈥檚 guidelines and refer to local authorities any organizations or individuals who use taxpayer funds fraudulently.

This article originally appeared in at . The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

The Texas House gave initial approval early Thursday to a bill that would create a $1 billion private school voucher program, crossing a historic milestone and bringing Gov. 鈥檚 top legislative priority closer than ever to reaching his desk.

The lower chamber signed off on its voucher proposal, , on an 85-63 vote. Every present Democrat voted against the bill. They were joined by two Republicans 鈥� far short of the bipartisan coalitions that in previous legislative sessions consistently blocked proposals to let Texans use taxpayer money to pay for their children鈥檚 private schooling.

鈥淭his is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children,鈥� Abbott said in a statement, vowing that he would 鈥渟wiftly sign this bill into law鈥� when it reached his desk.

The vote came more than 10 hours after the chamber gave preliminary approval to its sweeping $7.7 billion school funding package, which would give local districts more money per student and raise teacher salaries., which passed on a 144-4 vote, also aims to improve the quality of special education services by allocating funding based on the of children with disabilities.

Democrats argued the funding boost barely scratches the surface of what districts need to come back from budget deficits or to cover growing costs after years of inflation, but they ultimately supported the bill after a few hours of debate.

The more dramatic showdown came over the voucher bill, which Democrats tried to thwart with an amendment that would have put school vouchers up for a statewide vote in November. But the last-ditch maneuver attracted support from only one Republican 鈥� Rep. of Beaumont, the former House speaker 鈥� spelling the demise of Democrats鈥� one major play to derail the bill.

The landmark voucher vote marks the first time since 1957 that the Texas House has approved legislation making state money available for families to use on their children鈥檚 private schooling. The outcome validated Abbott鈥檚 crusade to build a pro-voucher House majority during last year鈥檚 primary by targeting Republicans who tanked his previous proposal in 2023. Now, all that is left is for Republicans in both chambers to iron out the differences between their voucher plans, leaving Abbott and his allies on the brink of victory.

The House鈥檚 plan would put $1 billion to create education savings accounts, a form of vouchers that families could use to pay for private school tuition and other school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation and therapy. The bill would tie the voucher program鈥檚 per-student dollars to public education funding so the amount available to each participating student would increase when public schools receive more money and dip when public education funding declines.

If public demand exceeds the program鈥檚 capacity, students with disabilities and families defined by House lawmakers as low income would be prioritized 鈥� though they would not be guaranteed admission to any private school.

Democrats expressed disappointment over the House鈥檚 approval of vouchers, saying the outcome represented big money interests prevailing over those of everyday Texans.

鈥淭his bill is everything that is wrong with politics,鈥� said Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin.

After Thursday鈥檚 vote, the House will still need to cast a final vote to approve both the voucher and school spending bills, largely a formality. The measures would then head to the Senate. At that point, members from both chambers would work to reconcile the differences in their voucher proposals in a closed-door conference committee. The biggest differences center on how much money participating students should receive, which applicants should take priority and how the program should accommodate students with disabilities.

The House debate on vouchers started Wednesday afternoon and ended early Thursday. Lawmakers changed a provision in the bill that would have limited funding for people without disabilities or from wealthier households 鈥� defined as a family of four making about $156,000 or greater 鈥� to only 20% of the program鈥檚 total budget until after the 2026-27 school year. The 20% cap would now apply to each year of the potential voucher program.

The bill now also requires private schools to have existed for at least two years before joining the program; grants the state auditor more power to review the activities of organizations contracted to administer the program; and requires the state鈥檚 annual report on the program to include dropout, expulsion and graduation data on participating students with disabilities 鈥� broken down by grade, age, sex and race or ethnicity.

Wednesday鈥檚 debate over SB 2 covered many of the talking points for and against vouchers echoed throughout the legislative session.

Republicans sought to assure their colleagues that the bill would prioritize low-income children and students with disabilities. Democrats noted that the legislation imposes no admission requirements on private schools, meaning they can deny any student, even those the state wants first in line for the program.

whose children were have primarily benefited from the large-scale voucher programs enacted in other states.

Democrats filed dozens of amendments they believed would make the Texas legislation more equitable for underserved students, but they were all dismissed. One of the rejected proposals came from Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., D-Houston, who sought to offer higher voucher amounts to students on the lower rungs of the income ladder. He argued that some families could not afford to send their children to a private school even with $10,000 in state support.

The average Texas private school costs , according to Private School Review.

鈥淚f you’re in a 12-foot hole and somebody sends you a 10-foot rope,鈥� Dutton said, 鈥渢hat’s not much of an option.鈥�

Rep. , the Republican chair of the House Public Education Committee, also received questions Wednesday over a provision recently added to SB 2 that would bar undocumented Texans from participating in the proposed voucher program.

SB 2 would prevent any student whose parent cannot prove that the child is a U.S. citizen or that the child lawfully resides in the country from participating in the program. Several lawmakers raised questions about what state entity would be responsible for checking the children鈥檚 citizenship, how the legislation would protect the privacy of applicants and whether it would accommodate students who may find it difficult to access certain documents.

Buckley clarified that organizations helping the state administer the voucher program would oversee applications and that the process would include protections 鈥渇or all personal information.鈥� If applicants are unable to provide proper documentation, Buckley said, they would not participate in the program. The legislation does not specify exactly which documents families would need to provide.

The Texas Senate also previously considered barring undocumented Texans from participating in the voucher program if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns those students鈥� constitutional right to a public education, but the change never made it into that chamber鈥檚 legislation.

Legal questions remain about the citizenship restriction in SB 2. Every student in the U.S. is entitled to a public education regardless of their immigration status, and the potential voucher program would rely on public dollars.

鈥婽he House also gave initial approval to its priority school funding legislation. Two years ago, public schools missed out on nearly $8 billion, which Abbott had made conditional on the approval of vouchers.

This year鈥檚 public education spending bill would increase schools鈥� base funding by $395 鈥� from $6,160 to $6,555. That amount, known as the basic allotment, would automatically go up every two years by tying it to property value growth. Forty percent of the allotment would go to non-administrative staff salaries, with higher pay increases reserved for teachers with more than a decade of classroom experience.

In addition, the bill would limit schools鈥� use of educators who lack formal classroom training, core classes. It would change the current settings-based model for by providing schools money based on the individual needs of students with disabilities. Two students placed in the same classroom but who require different levels of support receive the same dollars under the current settings-based model.

Republicans, during hours of debate, celebrated the bill as a worthwhile investment in public education. Democrats also voiced support for the legislation but argued that it barely scratches the surface of what districts need. Many school districts are currently grappling with challenges ranging from budget deficits and teacher shortages to campus closures.

Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, pressed Buckley, the bill鈥檚 author, on whether the measure鈥檚 $8 billion would be enough to solve Texas schools鈥� struggles, which have been fueled by stagnant funding and inflation.

Buckley did not directly acknowledge that his bill would fall short of addressing all the financial pressures facing districts. He instead focused on the multibillion-dollar funding boost the Legislature hopes to provide this session, which includes money through HB 2 and other legislation under consideration.

鈥淚 just want to emphasize, members, you have an opportunity today to cast a vote for the largest investment in public education in the history of our state, and so we will continue this process as this body returns session after session to make sure the resources are there for our schools,鈥� Buckley said.

Members of the public viewing the debate from the House gallery erupted in laughter and applause in support of Talarico鈥檚 questioning. Talarico and those in the gallery did not appear content with Buckley鈥檚 answers.

鈥淚’m going to take that as a no until I get a yes,鈥� Talarico said.

The House eliminated an earlier provision of the bill that would have gotten rid of a 2023 鈥渉old harmless鈥� provision, which provides financial relief to school districts that lose funding due to cuts to state property taxes, a major source of revenue for public schools.

Lawmakers sparred over other aspects of the legislation 鈥� from whether the Legislature should continue to invest heavily in, which offers support to underserved students at risk of dropping out of school, to how the state should hold charter schools accountable for mismanagement.

Upon final passage, HB 2 will go to the Senate for further consideration. That chamber has already passed a number of similar proposals 鈥� though top lawmakers there have expressed opposition to increasing schools’ base funding this session.

The basic allotment offers districts flexibility to address their campuses’ unique needs, including staff salaries, utilities and maintenance. The Senate has instead advocated for more targeted funding in areas like teacher pay, school security and special education.鈥�

This article originally appeared in at . The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at .

Ohio spent nearly a billion dollars on private school scholarship programs for the 2024 fiscal year, the first full year with near-universal school vouchers.

The total scholarship amount for Ohio鈥檚 five private school scholarship programs was $970.7 million, according to final . Well more than a third that money ($406.7 million) was from Education Choice Expansion scholarships.

鈥淚 think this does have potentially a negative impact on students, on public schools around the margins, as you see those enrollment trends, but then in the big picture, when you have close to a billion dollars in public money that鈥檚 going to private schools, that means a billion dollars in state money that鈥檚 not available to meet the needs of the nearly 90% of kids that attend our public schools,鈥� said Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro.

The $970.7 million number is higher than the estimated predicted when it came to the scholarship programs.

The five private school scholarship programs are the Autism Scholarship Program, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, the Cleveland Scholarship, the Education Choice Scholarship and the Educational Choice Expansion Scholarship Program.

Students on the autism spectrum are eligible to receive vouchers up to $32,455 for the Autism Scholarship Program. Students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from their district are eligible for the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship. The Cleveland Scholarship is for all students living in the boundaries of Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Students living in the boundaries of a low-performing school district are eligible for Education Choice scholarships.

Lawmakers expanded the Education Choice-Expansion eligibility to 450% of the poverty line last year through the state budget 鈥� creating near-universal school vouchers. This means a family of four above the $135,000 income threshold can .

K-8 students can receive a $6,165 scholarship and high schoolers can receive a $8,407 scholarship in state funding under the expansion.

There were 93,159 applicants for the EdChoice Expansion scholarships and 89,794 were awarded scholarships, according to ODEW data. The amount of EdChoice-Expansion scholarship payments more than tripled from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024.

For the traditional EdChoice scholarships, there were 44,020 applicants and 42,779 were awarded scholarships 鈥� totaling $273.1 million, according to ODEW data.

During this time, nonpublic school enrollment increased about 2%, going from 169,807 in fiscal year 2023 to 173,156 in fiscal year 2024, according to ODEW data.

Public school enrollment declined slightly 鈥� dropping about 6,000 students from the 2022-23 school year to the 2023-24 school year.

Most of these new EdChoice Expansion scholarships are students who were already attending private schools, DiMauro said. Ohio鈥檚 voucher program started with the Cleveland Scholarships back in 1996.

鈥淭his was intended to help students who didn鈥檛 have the resources to have options outside of public schools,鈥� DiMauro said. 鈥�(The EdChoice Expansion) is clearly intended to benefit people that had long ago made the decision to send their kids to private schools.鈥�

In some cases, the universal vouchers have allowed private schools to increase tuition, he said.

鈥淭he increased revenue comes at the expense of the state,鈥� DiMauro said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the private schools themselves that are directly being subsidized through this program, even more than families are.鈥�

If private schools are going to accept vouchers, DiMauro wishes there was more transparency when it comes to private school tuition.

The OLSC predicts the five scholarship programs鈥� payment total will exceed a billion dollars next year.

Aaron Churchill, Ohio鈥檚 research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, thinks these scholarship payment figures are sustainable year-to-year.

鈥淚 do think we can walk and chew gum at the same time,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e can support great public schools. We can provide the resources for them. 鈥� We can also empower families with greater choice. And I think that鈥檚 the direction that Ohio is moving.鈥�

Total payments for the five scholarship programs for the past five fiscal years, according to ODEW data:

$610.2 million in fiscal year 2023 $554.5 million in fiscal year 2022$444.5 million in fiscal year 2021$394.2 million in fiscal year 2020$346.6 million In fiscal year 2019

Remaining scholarships

For the Cleveland Scholarship this fiscal year, there were 8,626 applicants and 8,361 scholarships were given 鈥� totaling $53.6 million, according to ODEW data.

There were 5,610 applicants for the Autism Scholarship and 5,385 were awarded for $141.7 million, according to ODEW data.

For the Jon Peterson Scholarship, there were 9,439 applicants and 9,082 scholarships were awarded, totaling $95.6 million, according to ODEW data.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: info@ohiocapitaljournal.com. Follow Ohio Capital Journal on and .

More than two dozen private schools have applied as first-time participants in the second year of Arkansas鈥� school voucher program.

Created through the 2023 , the Educational Freedom Account program allows state funds to be used for allowable expenses such as private school tuition. It鈥檚 being phased in with expanding eligibility criteria each year until it鈥檚 available to all Arkansas students in the 2025-2026 academic year.

As of the end of June, 27 new private schools applied for the second year of the EFA program, according to the Arkansas Department of Education. There is no application deadline for schools, however, most approval will occur prior to the start of the academic year in August, ADE spokeswoman Kimberly Mundell said. If schools are approved in the fall, payments will be prorated, she said.

Twenty-three schools have received conditional approval pending legislative approval of the final rules governing the EFA program, Mundell said. Three schools are pending review and one school, The Lab School of Memphis, was rejected because it鈥檚 located outside Arkansas.

Madonna Learning Center in Germantown, Tennessee, however, is permitted to participate for its second year because the allows schools outside Arkansas that previously served Succeed Scholarship students to participate. The defunct program, which primarily supported students with disabilities, was absorbed into the EFA program.

Of the 100 schools approved to participate in the inaugural year of the program (not all participated), 86 have received preliminary approval and another seven are pending review, according to ADE. Two are closing 鈥� Avilla Christian Academy in Alexander and Cedar Heights Christian Academy in North Little Rock.

Instead of renewing, Lighthouse Homeschool Cooperative in Jonesboro is applying as an education service provider. Julian and Jaxon Academy in Little Rock was rejected for the upcoming year.

鈥淔rom the very beginning of the EFA program, we have stated that participating private schools will be held accountable for providing a high-quality education to students, and we will investigate if bad actors are wasting taxpayers鈥� funds,鈥� Mundell said. 鈥淒uring our ongoing review of participating schools this past school year, the department noticed some issues that resulted in a pause in payments to the entity. We have been in contact with school officials and will continue to investigate.鈥�

First-time applicants

Christi Zumwalt, administrator for Garrett Memorial Christian School in Hope, said she was 鈥渁 little apprehensive鈥� about joining the EFA program its inaugural year and wanted to take time to learn more about it. Zumwalt said she wanted to be sure the school鈥檚 Biblical curriculum wouldn’t be compromised before applying the second year.

鈥淲e wanted to be able to stay true to what we had been doing for these 24 years, but we also wanted to help our families out and provide Christian education to anyone, even those who might not be able to afford it,鈥� she said.

Tuition for the upcoming year at Garrett Memorial Christian School, which had nearly 170 students last year, will be $4,150 per child with discounted rates for siblings, according to Zumwalt and the application filed with ADE. There鈥檚 an additional $500-$550 in fees for enrollment, books, athletics and music.

For the 2024-2025 school year, EFA participants can receive up to $6,856 per student for educational expenses, an increase from about $6,600 last year.

Participation will be capped at around 14,000 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Nearly 12,000 students have applied so far with 4,998 renewing students and 6,856 new applicants, according to ADE.

The department temporarily closed the student application portal in June to transition to a new vendor that will manage the program and it will reopen later this month, according to the .

The private school portal has remained open for applicants like Michael Maloy, Thaden School鈥檚 head of school, who said it made sense for his Bentonville institution to join the EFA program this fall because more students will be eligible as the school expands to include kindergarten and first grade.

Inaugural year eligibility criteria included foster children, children of active duty military members and first-time kindergarteners, as well as students who have disabilities, are experiencing homelessness or are enrolled in an 鈥淔鈥�-rated school. Eligibility in year two expands to include students at 鈥淒鈥�-rated schools and children of veterans, military reservists or first responders.

The independent school, which Maloy said offers a 鈥渃hallenging and engaging curriculum鈥� that aims to prepare students for college, work and life, opened in 2017 with support from the Walton Family Foundation. A longtime supporter of charter schools and 鈥渟chool choice,鈥� the foundation has invested more than $1 billion traditional district, public charter and private schools 鈥渢o support innovative organizations鈥� that want to give families the option 鈥渢o choose the best school for their child, regardless of their ZIP code,鈥� .

Thaden has historically offered grades 6-12, but plans to grow into a K-12 institution in the next few years. Tuition will range from $23,000 to $28,500 next year, and Maloy said they offer 鈥渁 robust financial aid program鈥� that includes indexed tuition, meaning families pay according to their income.

Participating in the EFA program will provide additional assistance to students鈥� families, more than half of whom receive some form of financial aid, he said.

鈥淚 think parents that have applied are very thankful to have the opportunity,鈥� Maloy said. 鈥淭he gift of a transformational education鈥檚 really important and being able to have help financing it I think is really important to parents.鈥�

Accountability measures

While proponents praise the affordability aspect of the EFA program, critics argue it鈥檚 unfair because private schools receiving state funding don鈥檛 have to follow the same requirements as their public counterparts, such as admitting all students, providing transportation and administering certain standardized tests.

The LEARNS Act does require private schools to administer approved annual exams for EFA students.

For AR Kids, a ballot question committee, hopes to address the accountability issue through a that, among other things, aims to hold private schools receiving state funding to the same standards as public schools. The group has until Friday to collect from at least 50 counties to qualify the measure for the 2024 ballot.

Opponents of the EFA program have also criticized it for drawing students away from public schools and taking with them much-needed funding, particularly for smaller, rural schools.

Zumwalt said she doesn鈥檛 view it as a competition with public schools 鈥渂ecause we do something totally different.鈥�

鈥淲e offer the academic rigor that the other schools do, but we also teach everything through a Biblical lens 鈥� my colleagues that are in public schools, I don鈥檛 feel like I鈥檓 competing with them and I鈥檝e told them that we鈥檙e not trying to take your students, we just want to be able to offer what we have to students who want it,鈥� she said.

Curriculum flexibility is appealing to Marcus Baskerville, who wants to open a Little Rock private school that offers an AI-driven curriculum with Christian components. The Texas-based education administrator hopes to open the Baskerville Leadership Academy in Little Rock for the 2025-2026 academic year and said he鈥檚 applying for the EFA program now so he鈥檒l already be in the system.

To qualify for the EFA program, schools that have not been in operation for at least one school year a statement by a certified public accountant that the school is insured and has sufficient capital or credit to operate in the upcoming school year and/or file with ADE a surety bond or letter of credit for the amount equal to the account funds needed by the school for any quarter.

Baskerville launched his nonprofit, Baskerville Squared, in 2020 after noticing a decline in students coming to school during the pandemic. He wanted more flexibility to try creative curriculums, which he said private schools provide.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e afforded that autonomy to, if something鈥檚 not working, you can change aggressively to help that student out to make sure something鈥檚 going to work 鈥� to make sure they鈥檙e all getting the education that they need as opposed to a few of them and a majority of them not getting it,鈥� he said.

Baskerville initially explored opening charter schools in , and . He later realized it would be easier to open a private school and learning about the EFA program solidified his plans to do so.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not here to take away from public schools or charter schools,鈥� Baskerville said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e here to be a help to those areas because parents want an affordable option that鈥檚 alternative, and if you鈥檙e not getting it from public or charter and [private鈥檚] giving that affordability, you shouldn鈥檛 see it as a negative thing.鈥�

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com. Follow Arkansas Advocate on and .

Indiana鈥檚 private school voucher program enrollment jumped about 32% in the most recent school year, marking a historic single-year jump, according to the state鈥檚 latest .

The state-funded program enrolled a record 70,095 students in 2023-2024, costing taxpayers $439 million 鈥� which is around 40% higher .

Even so, the report noted that 鈥� had all Hoosier voucher users attended their traditional public schools 鈥� the state would have paid around $516 million in education expenses. That鈥檚 because vouchers are paid at a lower amount than public school funding.

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After widening the Choice Scholarship Program in 2022, state lawmakers further expanded the and open to almost all Hoosier families.

Since the changes took effect, 鈥� which allows families to receive vouchers to attend private schools 鈥� have expanded to include households with incomes up to 400% of the amount required for a student to qualify for the federal free or reduced price lunch program, equal to about $220,000.

The latest numbers

The new statewide report released on Friday indicates that the latest surge in voucher participation was largely driven by students from wealthier families.

The average family income for a voucher student in 2023-24 was $99,121 鈥� an increase of more than 20% from the previous year. That鈥檚 well above the state鈥檚 median household income of about $67,000, according to the .

Almost 8,000 students in the latest cohort came from households making between $150,000 to $200,000 annually 鈥� up from 2,800 in 2022-23.

Voucher students from families making more than $200,000 increased even more 鈥� roughly tenfold 鈥� from 354 students in 2022-23 to about 3,700 in 2023-24.

Story continues below.

Across other income brackets, around 2,000 more students came from families with incomes of up to $50,000, while another 2,000 came from households making between $50,000 and $100,000. More than 4,000 additional students came from families with incomes between $100,000 to $150,000, according to the report.

Two-thirds of voucher recipients in the last school year had never attended an Indiana public school, an increase of about four percentage points from 2022-23.

In total, 6.1% of all Indiana public and private-school students received a voucher in 2023-24, up from around 4.7% the year before, according to the report.

Data shows white students make up the majority of voucher users at 64%. Hispanic students account for 17.3% of voucher participants, while Black students make up just shy of 9%.

The average award amount was $6,264 and the average tuition and fees at a private school was $7,749, according to the report. Vouchers provide 90% of the amount of state-funding a public school corporation receives for each student, or covers all tuition and fees, whichever is lesser.

An ongoing push to increase vouchers

Indiana voucher participation has grown rapidly since the program began in 2011, when less than 4,000 students used a Choice Scholarship. Spearheaded by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels, the program intended to help children from poor families find alternatives to low-performing public schools.

Indiana is now one of 16 states with publicly funded vouchers, according to EdChoice, an Indianapolis-based group that backs voucher programs.

But that most Choice Scholarship students will attend private schools with or without a voucher, meaning their tuition is an added expense for taxpayers and only the state鈥檚 wealthiest will benefit.

Public schools officials and teachers unions also remain opposed to Choice Scholarship expansions, arguing that its projected cost over the next two years will stymie K-12 education funding increases for public schools. They point to state law, too, that allows voucher schools to reject students for their religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or academic ability, among other reasons.

鈥淭his expansion, extending vouchers to wealthier families, funnels public funds to those who can already afford private schools. This shift adds a financial burden on the state without reducing public school costs, undermining claims of state savings,鈥� said Keith Gambill, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA). 鈥淚nstead of helping wealthy families attend private schools at the expense of public school kids, we should be investing these tax dollars in our public schools.鈥�

Still, change could be on the horizon for the state鈥檚 voucher system.

During the most recent 2024 legislative session, Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, to completely overhaul Indiana鈥檚 private school vouchers with a grant program that would allow all Hoosier families 鈥� regardless of income 鈥� to choose where their students get educated.

Although the bill did not advance, discussion at the Statehouse previewed when the General Assembly reconvenes to craft the next state budget.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on and .

Attorneys for public school advocates said in oral arguments Tuesday before the Mississippi Supreme Court that the state constitutional provision that prevents public funds from going to private schools is 鈥渋ronclad.鈥�

Attorneys Rob McDuff and Will Bardwell, representing Parents for Public Schools, said at the time of the writing of the 1890 Mississippi Constitution that public funds were being spent on private schools and the framers of the constitution sought to prevent that from occurring. Section 208 of the constitution says, in part, that public funds shall not be provided to any school 鈥渘ot conducted as a free school.鈥�

The Parents for Public Schools organization filed a lawsuit in 2022 challenging the constitutionality of a $10 million state legislative appropriation made to the Midsouth Association of Independents Schools.

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鈥淪ection 208 expresses a simple principle: public money shall go to public schools,鈥� McDuff told a three-justice panel of the nine-member Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Only justices Leslie King of the Central District, Robert Chamberlin of the Northern District and David Ishee of the Southern District heard the oral arguments, though it is possible that all nine justices will rule on the issue. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court by state Attorney General Lynn Fitch after Hinds County Chancellor Crystal Wise Mastin ruled the Legislature鈥檚 action was unconstitutional.

Justin Matheny of the Attorney General鈥檚 Office argued Tuesday that it was OK for the Legislature to appropriate the money to the state鈥檚 private schools for infrastructure repairs because the funds were not state money but were part of the more than $1 billion in federal funds provided to the state for COVID-19 relief.

Additionally, Matheny pointed out the funds were not directly appropriated to the private schools by the Legislature, but to the state Department of Finance and Administration with the instruction to send the money to the private schools in the form of grants. King of the Central District, who presided over the three-justice panel, told Matheny that it was the custom of the Legislature to appropriate most funds to state agencies with instructions to provide the money to the entity that the Legislature intended to receive the funds.

Matheny also argued that the Parents for Public Schools was not directly harmed by the Legislature鈥檚 action so the advocacy group did not have standing to bring the case. Bardwell argued that the group as taxpayers, including taxpaying parents of public school students, did have standing.

King asked Matheny if he was arguing that sometimes there is no one with standing to file a lawsuit challenging a legislative action as unconstitutional.

Matheny replied, 鈥淚t is possible and it should not bother anyone鈥� since no one was harmed by the legislative action. He said the appropriated money was not state funds reserved for public schools, so no one was harmed.

Chamberlin then posed a hypothetical to McDuff: If Congress earmarked money specifically for private schools, would the Mississippi Legislature be able to appropriate it to the private schools then? McDuff replied the Legislature would not under Section 208 of the state constitution. Of course, under Chamberlin’s hypothetical, Congress could bypass the Legislature and send money directly to the private schools just as it did to public schools as part of some of the COVID-19 relief funds.

The money the Legislature appropriated to the private schools in 2022 was part of a pot of federal discretionary funds that were sent to the states to be used in numerous areas, including on infrastructure improvements. But since the money was public, Bardwell and McDuff argued, in Mississippi it could not go to private schools.

Buck Dougherty of the Liberty Justice Center argued that the private schools should be allowed to intervene in the case. The private schools were not allowed to intervene in the lower Hinds County Chancery Court. Martin, the judge in the original case, ruled that the request to intervene was made too late.

In addition, Dougherty argued that Section 208 of the state constitution violates the U.S. Constitution. He said that constitutional provisions in various states prohibiting public money from going to private religious schools have been ruled as unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

But Bardwell pointed out that the issue is not public money going to religious schools.

He said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that 鈥渢he state is not obligated to fund private schools.鈥� But if a state is providing funds to a private school, it cannot discriminate against religious schools. The key difference, Bardwell said, is that Mississippi Constitution’s Section 208 prohibited public funds from going to all private schools.

Numerous people on both sides of the issue attended the Tuesday oral arguments in downtown Jackson.

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