Education Choice Expansions and the Public Purse

Between 2020 and 2026, private education choice programs expanded significantly across many American states. This article examines the fiscal impacts of these larger programs on state and local school district budgets. Trends in these expanded programs include universal eligibility for nonpublic students, much lower award amounts relative to total expenditures per public school student, and funding caps. State fiscal impacts remain modest due to low initial take-up rates among nonpublic students. Finally, the mechanics of public school revenues produce higher per-student funding, which results in smaller class sizes and other increases in resources for students remaining in district public schools.