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School Choice In The United States Ballotpedia

Leo Migdal
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school choice in the united states ballotpedia

Welcome to the Wednesday, December 18, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A version of this story appeared last week in Ballotpedia’s education newsletter, Hall Pass. Sign up to stay informed on the latest education policy and school board politics news. Thirty-eight states will kick off their 2025 legislative sessions in the first three weeks of January. The number of students in private school choice programs has grown in recent years as mostly Republican-led states have created or expanded programs that accept all or nearly all students.

However, school choice proponents have failed in recent years to get legislation enacted in GOP-controlled states like Idaho, Tennessee, and Texas. In those states, rural Republican lawmakers have argued private school choice policies won’t benefit their districts, which tend to lack private schools. Voters decided on 12 education-related state ballot measures—the most in 18 years— on the November 5, 2024, general election. Here are some highlights: Measures were on the ballot in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Utah. The measures regarded school choice programs and non-public education, standardized testing, school board elections, school governance, and funding.

Here are the results. The three ballot measures regarding school choice programs, which include policies that provide families with taxpayer funding for private education or homeschooling, were all defeated: Massachusetts Question 2, concerning standardized testing requirements, was approved by 59% of voters. It eliminates the requirement that students must pass a standards-based exam to graduate high school. Florida Amendment 1, which would've changed school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan starting in 2026, was defeated. It needed 60% approval from voters but received 55%.

One hundred years ago, on June 1, 1925, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters, striking down a voter-approved ballot initiative, Oregon Measure Nos. 314-315, which required children to attend public schools. The Court held that "the child is not the mere creature of the State" and "the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments of this Union rest excludes any general power of the... While Pierce did not establish school choice programs, it has been cited in later rulings related to school choice, including Zelman v.

Simmons-Harris (2002) and Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020). Paul E. Peterson, the Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Government at Harvard University, said, "Pierce did not launch the school choice movement, but 100 years ago it laid the groundwork to advance" this policy area. Because the case originated from a ballot measure and remains relevant to school choice jurisprudence, Pierce is a useful starting point for exploring how ballot measures have influenced school choice policy. Overview of school choice ballot measures

Since 1970, voters in 12 states have decided on 22 statewide ballot measures related to school choice policies, including vouchers, tax credits, education savings accounts (ESAs), and charter schools.

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Welcome To The Wednesday, December 18, Brew. Here’s What’s In

Welcome to the Wednesday, December 18, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A version of this story appeared last week in Ballotpedia’s education newsletter, Hall Pass. Sign up to stay informed on the latest education policy and school board politics news. Thirty-eight states will kick off their 2025 legislative sessions in the first three weeks of January. The number of stu...

However, School Choice Proponents Have Failed In Recent Years To

However, school choice proponents have failed in recent years to get legislation enacted in GOP-controlled states like Idaho, Tennessee, and Texas. In those states, rural Republican lawmakers have argued private school choice policies won’t benefit their districts, which tend to lack private schools. Voters decided on 12 education-related state ballot measures—the most in 18 years— on the November...

Here Are The Results. The Three Ballot Measures Regarding School

Here are the results. The three ballot measures regarding school choice programs, which include policies that provide families with taxpayer funding for private education or homeschooling, were all defeated: Massachusetts Question 2, concerning standardized testing requirements, was approved by 59% of voters. It eliminates the requirement that students must pass a standards-based exam to graduate ...

One Hundred Years Ago, On June 1, 1925, The U.S.

One hundred years ago, on June 1, 1925, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters, striking down a voter-approved ballot initiative, Oregon Measure Nos. 314-315, which required children to attend public schools. The Court held that "the child is not the mere creature of the State" and "the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments of this Uni...

Simmons-Harris (2002) And Espinoza V. Montana Department Of Revenue (2020).

Simmons-Harris (2002) and Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020). Paul E. Peterson, the Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Government at Harvard University, said, "Pierce did not launch the school choice movement, but 100 years ago it laid the groundwork to advance" this policy area. Because the case originated from a ballot measure and remains relevant to school choice jurisprudence, Pierc...