Seven secrets to cutting school costs... the vouchers and tax credits you could be missing out on
America's 'school choice' movement - which promises supplemental funds for parents who want their children in schools they wouldn't otherwise be able to access - has the wind in its sails.
Texas is on track to launch one of the largest taxpayer-funded school choice schemes in the country, and parents across 34 states already have access to vouchers covering non-public school costs.
Republican lawmakers even have plans to create a $10 billion federal system during the Trump administration, allowing parents in states that reject the school choice program to access the assistance.
Advocates of the plans say they help parents get kids out of poorly run public schools and pay for something better. Competition, they say, raises standards across the board.
Critics, though, say the tax dollars end up covering private school fees for wealthy households, and that cash-strapped public schools are starved of funding and become weaker.
As conservative advocates of school choice battle it out with liberal teachers' unions, worried parents are left scratching their heads about what's right for their family.
At least half the parents in states with open schemes do not even know they exist, according to EdChoice, a group advocating for school choice.
And, once they become aware, many struggle to choose and apply to an alternative to their local public school because they're not equipped with all the information needed.
Parents are worried about violence and bullying at public schools and want a way out, says Robert Enlow, president of EdChoice. Though, it can happen at private institutions as well
Critics of school choice say it drains money and students from public schools, leaving them worse off
The Daily Mail has spoken with experts, creating the ultimate guide to help parents navigate school choice and find the right educational institution for their child.
You may be eligible for assistance and not know it
There are already 75 school choice programs on the books across 34 states, used by some 1.2 million students, says EdChoice.
Still, there are just as many students who are entitled to assistance and don't know it.
The schemes range enormously, but are mostly vouchers, education savings accounts, tax credits or some combination thereof.
Many programs target disadvantaged kids, including those with disabilities or special needs.
Others have income requirements, often set at three times the federal poverty level - that amounts to $96,450 for a family of four in 2025.
Robert Enlow, president of EdChoice, says school choice schemes are wildly popular with parents, with demand for them typically exceeding supply once they are launched.
'Parents want choice,' Enlow told the Daily Mail.
'They want better quality - that's why they're moving.'
Even affluent parents can qualify
The local private Catholic school might be an option for many parents
Some well-off parents have been surprised to learn that they, too, qualify for school credits.
In 2023, Florida expanded its $8,000-a-year vouchers to families of all means by cutting the income requirement.
Under the new Texas plan, even relatively financially comfortable households - such as a family of four with an income of $160,000 per year - stand to benefit.
The federal scheme being discussed caps recipients at three times their area's median income.
In some zip codes, that adds up to more than $300,000 per year.
Joshua Cowen, professor of education at Michigan State University, is critical of school choice. He has said these programs tend to favor savvy families who can navigate the complicated system.
Three quarters of vouchers distributed pay fees for students who were already attending private schools before the scheme was introduced, he says.
'If you're an entrepreneurial parent with a top-scoring kid, and you feel like your public school is not doing well for your child's achievement, you're probably going to benefit from school choice,' he says.
Your voucher money may not stretch as far as you hope
Vouchers won't come close to covering the annual fee for Phillips Exeter Academy, in Exeter, New Hampshire, one of the top-rated schools in America
Qualifying families can expect to have $5,000 to $10,000 of their annual educational costs covered.
That's easily enough to pay the $1,500 annual tuition costs at some remote private schools.
Just don't expect enough assistance to cover elite private schools, such as the $70,000-a-year fees for Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut, and the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.
'A lot of parents think that [all] private schools are like the one in Dead Poets Society,' Cowen says, referencing the movie about a posh boys' school.
'That's just not how it really works out.'
Picking the right school is tough
After qualifying for an education voucher, parents have to work out how to use it
For many parents, qualifying for a credit is not where the journey to adequate education ends. Rather, it begs the question of where to spend it.
Oftentimes, parents just want somewhere safe, in their neighborhood and better than the local public school.
In a major city, parents can have several decent options, but, in more remote areas, the choice may be between a public school and a few sub-par private religious schools.
Public schools typically release data on students reading, writing and attainment, which can give parents a sense for how their child will fare. But this is not always the case for private schools.
'For public schools, there's a way to look under the hood and see what's going on, and that's just not true with the private school market,' says Cowen.
Enlow says there's a 'major information gap' and many parents are left bemused.
He suggests resources - such as Love Your School Arizona or Families Empowered in Texas - in each state to help guide parents.
Enlow and Cowen agree that, after the research is done, parents may well find the local public school is actually the best option.
An education that fits your beliefs
Private religious schools don't always have the resources to teach a wide range of subjects, says Joshua Cowen
For many parents, school vouchers are a route to having their children attend a school that aligns more closely with their values.
Some say public schools have 'gone woke,' while others complain that the public schools in their area are too conservative.
But for many parents, school choice is about sending their kids to a private religious school that reflects the faith of their family.
More than two thirds of private schools in the US are faith based.
Catholic schools are the most common, and evangelical schools are increasingly popular.
Cowen says parents who opt for a conservative Christian school can run into problems down the road.
Christian schools have been known to kick out students who get pregnant or are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
'Many of them are run out of church basements, adjacent buildings or trailers,' he says.
Cowen also suggests the academic education might be subpar as the emphasis can be put on religious teachings.
'They can teach scripture, but don't expect them to deliver programs on algebra or advanced reading.'
Getting assistance is not the same as getting a spot at a school
Popular private schools, such as Choate Rosemary Hall, are competitive and cherry-pick their applicants
Qualifying for a $10,000 annual voucher does not mean every private school will accept your child.
In reality, the popular private schools already screen applicants, and allocate places based on test scores, interviews and other metrics.
Many also have long waiting lists, meaning some parents don't get the choices they were expecting, says Cowen.
Parents in poorer or more remote areas often end up choosing between an underperforming public school and equally unpopular local private schools.
Cowen says the school choice system often works well for self-starting urban parents.
New-wave schools look good on paper
Homeschooling and microschools quickly became more popular after the pandemic
Many parents assume that vouchers must be spent on private school fees, but that's not always the case. Recipients can also opt to try one of the newer innovations in schooling.
Depending on the rules in your area, the money can be spent on books, homeschooling, online courses or even microschools.
Startups have poached talented teachers from public schools and paid them generous salaries to provide tailor-made educations for classes of fewer than 16 kids in a home or community space.
These options are said to offer a more individual and flexible learning experience.
But watch out, says Cowen.
He's seen families left high and dry by venture capital firms that have poured cash into microschools, then pulled the plug when they've proven unprofitable just months later.
