Since 2021, a remarkable shift has begun to reshape education policy nationwide: growth in the number of states that embrace school choice measures. Last week, New Hampshire became the latest state – and the first in the Northeast – to fully adopt a universal program.
On June 10, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed Senate Bill 295, removing income restrictions from the state’s Education Freedom Account program. Families can apply public education funds toward private school tuition, homeschooling, tutoring, and other schooling options.
“Giving parents the freedom to choose the education setting that best fits their child’s needs will help every student in our state reach their full potential,” Ayotte said in a press release. “I’m proud to sign this into law today along with the Parental Bill of Rights, which ensures parents are the central voice in their children’s education.”
On that same day, Ayotte also signed a bill known as the “Parental Bill of Rights,” mandating that schools provide parents “accurate, truthful, and complete disclosure regarding any and all matters related to their minor child.” Parental rights advocates praised it as a major victory for transparency and parental authority.
School choice support gained momentum in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed mounting frustration with public school closures, remote learning failures, and ideological battles in the classroom.
Arizona led the charge in 2022, pioneering an $800 million program that gives parents $7,000 annually to put toward their children’s education.
In 2023, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, and Utah followed suit, each implementing universal education savings accounts (ESAs) or universal voucher systems that eliminated income caps and expanded eligibility requirements.
Florida’s sweeping expansion coincided with four consecutive years of rising Catholic school enrollment, reflecting both strong parental demand and renewed interest in faith-based education.
The wave continued in 2024 when Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia implemented new school choice measures, with Louisiana joining the ranks of universal programs while Alabama and Georgia adopted more limited options.
Tennessee launched its Education Freedom Scholarship Program in February 2025. In March, Wyoming joined the growing list, and Texas enacted the nation’s largest universal ESA plan one month later.
The efforts have been met with some pushback as well.
On June 13, the Wyoming Education Association sued state officials, arguing the law illegally diverts public education funds to private entities. Despite the lawsuit, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder plans to proceed with at least $6.4 million in payments to state-held accounts, according to the Cowboy State Daily. A preliminary injunction hearing on the case is scheduled for June 27.
CatholicVote and other Catholic leaders have strongly endorsed school choice initiatives as landmark victories for religious freedom and parental rights.
Public support has also continued to rise alongside expanded school choice programs.
As CatholicVote previously reported, a 2023 Wall Street Journal report documented growing enrollment in the newly established programs, as more families seize alternative education options.
Academic studies have further strengthened the case for school choice. Of 29 studies evaluating the impact of private school choice on public school student performance, 26 found positive academic results.
According to Ballotpedia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and West Virginia complete the full list of 18 states with universal school choice programs now in effect.
Fifteen others — Nevada, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin — offer more limited programs. These limited programs are restricted to certain student groups based on factors like income, disability status, or school performance.