Across the U.S., Republicans are pushing hard to put hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into private education, even though voters in a few states have rejected the idea.
In Texas, lawmakers are preparing to debate a statewide voucher program next year. Governor Greg Abbott has been on a mission to remove GOP lawmakers who blocked his plan to push vouchers through. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee and other Republican leaders have brought back a school choice bill to offer private school scholarships, after a similar plan failed last year due to opposition from rural lawmakers.
In North Carolina, Republicans recently overrode Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s veto to approve a bill that will spend nearly half a billion dollars a year on private school scholarships, with thousands of students already waiting to join.
It’s creating a big clash between lawmakers, teacher unions, and voters who disagree with this growing trend. Teachers’ unions are trying to stop the spread of school choice bills, saying these programs drain money from public schools. They’re also working to block a federal tax credit for private schools that President Trump supports.
In November, voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska showed that they’re not always on board with private school funding. Even though Kentucky’s voters supported Trump by a wide margin, they rejected a proposal that would have let lawmakers use public money for private schools. This defeat, especially in rural areas, shows there’s significant pushback against private school funding.
Over the past few years, more than 30 states have started some form of school choice program, which allows public funds to cover private school tuition, homeschooling, or education-related expenses. Arizona set a new standard in 2022 by making its program available to all families, regardless of income.
Texas is shaping up to be the biggest battleground. The American Federation for Children, a group founded by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, spent over $8 million in Texas elections to support candidates who back school vouchers. Governor Abbott says he now has enough support in the state House to pass a voucher bill, and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is urging Abbott to make school choice a top priority in the next legislative session.
But teacher unions aren’t backing down. The National Education Association (NEA) vows to fight back using all the tools at their disposal, including legal challenges. They’re ready to remind lawmakers of voters’ wishes and keep pushing against these bills.
Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers are also trying again with a voucher program. This time, they’re offering things like teacher bonuses and tax cuts to win over opponents.
Meanwhile, North Dakota might also see a new voucher bill next year, even though Governor Doug Burgum vetoed a similar one last year.
Despite some defeats at the polls, Republicans still seem determined to push forward with voucher programs. Some experts warn that while these programs are popular with some, they may upset suburban and rural voters who are happy with their public schools and don’t want to see taxpayer money go to private ones.
In states like North Carolina, where voters don’t directly vote on these issues, Republican lawmakers are still moving ahead with plans to spend big on private school scholarships. They argue that giving families more educational choices is an important part of their political message.
So, while some states are rejecting the idea of school vouchers, many Republican lawmakers are pushing ahead, making it clear that this issue is far from settled.
