Back to School in the Era of Educational Freedom

"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

These lyrics from the song Freewill, by the Canadian rock band Rush, resonate with me whenever I have a difficult decision to make. While it may be tempting to kick the can down the road, these lyrics remind me that not deciding is itself making a choice-and that often means choosing the status quo.

With the spread of educational freedom programs, especially universal ones, parents are increasingly facing difficult decisions about their children's education. For several generations, most parents went with the default option and sent their kids to their assigned public school, which was completely funded by tax dollars.

Over time, there has been a growing realization that this one-size-fits-all monopoly system doesn't really fit all kids. States began creating school choice programs, including vouchers and tax credit scholarships, that gave families access to a different school than the one their children had been assigned to. Then came education savings accounts (ESAs), which allowed parents to use state education dollars for a variety of educational expenses in addition to tuition. This wasn't just giving families the choice of a different school; it was opening entirely new learning pathways. More recently, some states have enacted refundable tax credits that help offset private school or homeschool expenses.

In the early days, education choice programs were often targeted to specific populations, such as students with special needs, low-income families, and military families. Post-COVID, there has been a move toward universal eligibility, which means every student can apply, although in many states there may not be sufficient funding to accept every application.

While universal educational freedom is exciting and brings amazing opportunities, it's indisputable that it also brings challenges. Moving forward, parents will need to take a more active role in their children's education. This can be intimidating because no parent wants to make the wrong decisions for their children-especially decisions that could have an enormous impact on their future. There may be a temptation to just stick with the status quo rather than having to decide between other options.

But, as the above lyrics remind us, parents who choose not to decide are still making a choice. If their assigned school is working for their child, it may make sense to remain there. If not, or if it's just so-so rather than a great fit, parents shouldn't hesitate to explore the new and growing options.

According to the advocacy group EdChoice, there are currently 75 private school choice programs on the books in 35 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More than 1.3 million students are now using one of these programs-a 25 percent increase from last year. But this represents only a little over two percent of the nation's K-12 students. Overall, EdChoice estimates that 80 percent of students are in a public district school, but the organization's polling consistently shows only around 40 percent of parents prefer that option. This mismatch shows there's a long way to go in terms of expanding access to and usage of school choice programs.

The access side of school choice has grown tremendously in recent years. Despite polling results showing parental interest, usage has been slower to increase. There are likely many reasons for this, including awareness, complexity, and gaps between scholarship amounts and private school costs. But fear of making the wrong decision probably holds many parents back. Realizing that not making a choice means choosing the status quo may help parents get past that fear and embrace the new opportunities that are available for their children.

Educational freedom is here to stay and will continue to expand. In 2025, Idaho, Tennessee, and Texas created brand-new school choice programs, while Indiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming opened existing programs up to all students. We'll likely see another big jump in usage this school year because it will be the first time students can use the ESAs in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Wyoming, along with Idaho's new refundable tax credit.

This means students will increasingly have access to exciting new educational options, and parents will increasingly choose where and how to educate their children. Fortunately, support organizations and other resources are available in many states to help parents navigate the changing landscape. I hope families embrace these new opportunities so all kids can access an education that truly fits their needs.

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