School Choice noun

/skül chóis/

Any policy that allows families to take their children’s education dollars to the approved education provider of their choosing – be it traditional public schools, public charter schools, private school, virtual learning, or home schooling.

<p><strong>Every 60 seconds</strong> a child drops out of a public school in America.</p>

Every 60 seconds a child drops out of a public school in America.

<p><strong>In many of our nation’s largest cities dropout rates</strong> exceed 50 percent.</p>

In many of our nation’s largest cities dropout rates exceed 50 percent.

<p>America is lagging behind more than a dozen other nations in <strong>math and literacy</strong>.</p>

America is lagging behind more than a dozen other nations in math and literacy.

Families deserve to have the freedom to choose the educational environment that serves their children best, regardless of financial ability or home address.

What is

School
Choice?

The definition of “School Choice” – Any policy that allows families to take their children’s education dollars to the approved education provider of their choosing.

Parents should have a wide range of high quality schools or educational options to choose from – be it traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools, virtual learning, or home schooling.

“Education funding is meant for educating children – not for protecting a particular institution. We should fund students, not systems.” – Corey DeAngelis

Private school choice, through scholarship tax credit programs, vouchers, educational savings accounts and individual tuition tax credits, gives students, including those from low-income families or those with special  needs, the opportunity to receive tuition to attend a private school that meets their needs immediately. Public school choice, like charters or magnets, allow families to choose educational settings within the public system.

Does School Choice Work?

Research shows that school choice programs improve outcomes for all students, reduces crime, helps students graduate high school and enroll in college.

See The Research

Where is

School Choice?

Know your state’s current laws

Map
  • States with private school choice programs and public charter school laws
  • States with private school choice programs and no public charter school laws
  • States with public charter school laws and no private school choice program
  • States with no private school choice or public charter school laws

Not all states have the same laws and public policies in place to empower parents and their children’s school choice rights. 47 states have some form of public or private school choice.

See the latest national snapshot

How school choice works

Types of Programs

Voucher Programs
Educational Savings Accounts
Scholarship Tax Credit
Individual Tuition Tax Credits
Charter Schools

Success in school choice programs across the country has been clear and proven: parents and their children have directly benefited from increased access to the educational environment they choose.

Dive deeper with the brochure

Why everyone deserves the right to school choice

Empowering children and parents

The case for school choice is overwhelming. The vast majority of credible evidence shows that school choice programs improve academic outcomes for not only the program participants but also the students in public schools; save taxpayers money; and reduce racial segregation.

Join the

School Choice Movement

Who we are

About Us

The AFC Growth Fund seeks to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children. We are affiliated with the American Federation for Children.