https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm-plus/school-choice-battles-are-widespread/
On June 11, New Hampshire became the 19th state to implement a universal private school choice program when Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed Senate Bill 295. The law eliminates the income threshold from the state’s Education Freedom Account Program, making it accessible to all students.
Parental freedom is spreading rapidly across the nation. In the summer of 2024, the number of students participating in school choice programs exceeded one million for the first time, with an estimated 1,038,500 opting in. By July 2025, that number had grown to approximately 1,300,900, a 25% rise.
The surge in parents leaving government-run schools isn’t surprising, given the latest PDK poll results released on August 19. The survey showed that Americans’ confidence in public schools is at an all-time low, with only 13% giving them an A or B, down from 19% in 2019 and 26% in 2004. Nearly 60% of parents nationwide say they would choose a private or religious school for their child if offered public funds.
The expansion of parental freedom has created an interesting political scenario. Jorge Elorza, CEO of Democrats for Education Reform, states, “For too long, the political Left has allowed the debate over school choice to be defined and dominated by conservatives. In doing so, we’ve neglected the most dynamic lever for equity and innovation in American education while alienating the Black, Latino, and working-class families we claim to represent. It’s time for progressives to come to the school choice table—not to dismantle public education, but to reinvent it for a new era.”
Elorza adds, “To reassert leadership on education, progressives must do more than say ‘no’ to choice plans. Instead, we need to lay out a vision of choice. That starts by breaking the monopoly of the traditional, top-down system and making room for bottom-up, community-driven innovation. We must empower communities to create new and different school models that can meet the unique educational needs of each child.”
Elorza’s words are especially timely because on July 4, President Trump approved legislation allowing the federal tax scholarship program to proceed. The Educational Choice for Children Act offers a tax credit that individuals can use to reduce their tax bills by donating money for private school expenses for students. ECCA is set to begin in 2027.
But the law’s final version allows states to opt out of participating, meaning no students in those states would be eligible for the program, which could have political consequences. It might be advantageous for Republicans because, clearly, Democrats are divided on the issue.
Additionally, the teachers’ unions are taking note. Open Secrets reports that in the 2024 election cycle, over 98% of the National Education Association’s political spending went to Democrats. While all teacher union leaders and some white progressives strongly oppose public funding for private schools, school choice remains popular among Black and Hispanic communities. In a recent poll, 63% of Hispanics and 68% of Blacks—typically Democrats—voiced support for a private option.
