School choice

Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican, addresses a series of questions from Democratic Sen. Mary Wills Bode regarding the funding expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program on the Legislative Building's Senate floor in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday, May 2, 2024. The Senate approved a measure to soon spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on the program, which allows children to receive taxpayer-funded scholarships to attend K-12 private or religious schools. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts

The North Carolina Senate has approved legislation to set aside roughly $500 million more for now for programs that provide taxpayer money to help K-12 students attend private schools.
 
People in the gallery hold signs over the House chamber floor during a legislative session Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee lawmakers adjourn after finalizing $1.9B tax cut and refund for businesses

 
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp makes remarks before signing Senate Bill 233 known as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act at Liberty Plaza on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor

 
FILE - Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, speaks after Support Our Schools Nebraska delivered 117,000 petition signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. Opponents of a Nebraska private school funding measure passed on the last day of the legislative session are considering how to fight it. (Justin Wan/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)

Public school advocates again face how to stop school choice in Nebraska

 
FILE - The Tennessee Capitol is seen, Jan. 8, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Republicans in the Tennessee House and Senate both plan to offer businesses new tax help worth upward of $1 billion, Friday, March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Tennessee Gov. Lee admits defeat in school voucher push

 

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North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers

North Carolina Republicans are advancing legislation to spend hundreds of millions of dollars now to eliminate a large waiting list for scholarships to attend private schools and to meet expected higher demand ahead.
 
Rep. Patsy Hazelwood, R-Signal Mountain, center, stands on the House floor during a legislative session Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder

Tennessee’s Republican-dominant Statehouse has approved a $52.8 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that includes an eye-popping $1.95 billion tax break and refund for businesses.
 
In this June 2023 selfie, Angie Lauritsen collects signatures in downtown Gretna, Neb., for a ballot initiative seeking to repeal a state law that would divert taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition. Nebraska lawmakers are set for the first time to pass a bill that would block the public from voting on a ballot measure initiated by citizens of the state, setting up what could be a long battle over whether to fund private school tuition with public dollars. (Angie Lauritsen via AP)

The push for school choice in Nebraska is pitting lawmakers against their constituents

Nebraska lawmakers are set for the first time to pass a bill that would block the public from voting on a ballot measure initiated by their constituents.
 
FILE - Jefferson County Public School students transfer buses at the Nichols Bus Compound, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 in Louisville, Ky. Kentucky's long-running political battle over whether taxpayer money should fund private or charter schools could be settled “once and for all” when voters weigh in decide the issue in November, the state Senate's top Republican leader said Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal via AP, File)

Kentucky ballot measure should resolve school-choice debate, Senate leader says

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers says the state’s long-running political fight over school choice could be settled “once and for all” when voters weigh in this fall.
 
FILE - John Heineman delivers a box of petition signatures from Support Our Schools Nebraska to the Nebraska Secretary of State, Aug. 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska lawmakers are on track to pass a bill that would circumvent Nebraska voters who could repeal a new Nebraska law that funds private school tuition with taxpayer money. The bill by Omaha Sen. Lou Ann Linehan advanced Tuesday from the first of three rounds of debate. (Justin Wan/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)

Nebraska lawmakers seek to solidify taxpayer-funded school choice before voters can decide it

Nebraska lawmakers are on track to pass a bill that would circumvent voters who could repeal a new law that funds private school tuition with taxpayer money.
 

Many eligible North Carolina school voucher applicants won’t get awards

This year’s dramatic increase in the number of new applicants to North Carolina’s expanded school voucher program means most higher-income families won’t receive financial help.
 
FILE - Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stands during the playing of the national anthem at the inauguration ceremonies, Jan. 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Drummond urged the state’s highest court on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, to stop the creation of what would be the nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Oklahoma court considers whether to allow the US’ first publicly funded Catholic school

Oklahoma’s attorney general is urging the state’s highest court to stop the creation of what would be the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school.
 
State Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, applauds following the passage of senate bill 233, which would give families $6,500 vouchers funding for private school tuition and home schooling, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in the Senate at the Capitol in Atlanta. The bill now moves to Gov. Brian Kemp forGeorgia senators gave final approval Wednesday to the bill, sending the measure to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature. (Matthew Pearson/WABE via AP)

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor

Georgia senators are giving final approval to $6,500 vouchers funding for private school tuition and home schooling, sending the measure to Gov.
 
FILE - The Kentucky Capitol is seen, Jan. 14, 2020, in Frankfort, Ky. Kentucky Republican lawmakers on Friday, March 15, 2024 put the political fight over whether taxpayer money should be able to flow to private or charter schools in the hands of voters to decide. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Republican lawmakers in Kentucky approve putting a school choice measure on the November ballot

Kentucky voters will decide whether they want to allow taxpayer money to go to private or charter schools.
 
Rep. Mesha Mainor, R-Atlanta, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 233 at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 14, 2024. The bill would give $6,000 a year in state funds to the parents of each child who opts for private schooling. (Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage

Georgia Republicans have powered a voucher plan funding private school tuition and home schooling through the state House.
 
FILE - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to a joint session of the state Legislature to deliver his State of the Commonwealth address in the House chambers of the state Capitol, Jan. 3, 2024, in Frankfort, Ky. Beshear vowed Thursday, March 14, to relentlessly oppose a proposed school choice constitutional amendment moving closer to reaching the general election ballot in Kentucky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Kentucky governor ready to campaign against school choice measure if it reaches fall ballot

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has vowed to relentlessly oppose a proposed school choice constitutional amendment moving closer to reaching Kentucky’s general election ballot.
 
FILE - The Kentucky Capitol is seen, Jan. 14, 2020, in Frankfort, Ky. Supporters of letting Kentucky voters decide the outcome of a school choice constitutional amendment cleared a key hurdle Wednesday, March 13, 2024, when the state House gave its support, after a tense debate that could foreshadow a bruising campaign ahead if the proposal reaches the ballot. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Kentucky House passes a bill aimed at putting a school choice constitutional amendment on the ballot

The Kentucky House has voted to let voters decide the outcome of a proposed school choice constitutional amendment.
 
FILE - Kentucky Republicans, including Majority Caucus chairwoman Suzanne Miles, right, select leaders for the 2019 legislative session in Frankfort, Ky., on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Republican lawmakers started advancing a school choice constitutional amendment Tuesday, March 12, 2024, that could become the most hotly debated state issue this fall if the proposal reaches Kentucky's ballot. During the hearing, Democrats opposed to the bill tried to pin down Republican state Rep. Miles, the bill's lead sponsor, on what follow-up policy decisions by the legislature could occur if the ballot measure wins voter approval. (AP Photo/Adam Beam, File)

Republican-led House panel in Kentucky advances proposed school choice constitutional amendment

Republican lawmakers have advanced a school choice constitutional amendment that could become the most hotly debated state issue this fall if the proposal reaches Kentucky’s ballot.
 

Alabama lawmakers have approved a school choice program

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday signed legislation creating a program similar to school vouchers. The state Senate voted 23-9 on Wednesday for the proposal.
 
FILE - The exterior of the South Carolina Supreme Court building in Columbia, S.C. is shown Jan. 18, 2023. The state Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether a new state law giving public money to private schools is illegal. (AP Photo/James Pollard, file)

South Carolina Supreme Court to decide if new private school voucher program is legal

The South Carolina Supreme Court has heard arguments on whether a law passed last year allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private schools violates part of the the state constitution banning direct aid to anything other than public schools.
 
FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami on Monday, March 27, 2023, to announce his signing of a private school voucher expansion, HB1, which allows more Florida school children to become eligible for taxpayer-funded school vouchers. Against the backdrop of favorable decisions by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, Florida was among nine states that expanded school voucher programs in 2023. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP, File)

Voucher expansion leads to more students, waitlists and classes for some religious schools

After last year’s wave of wins for the so-called school choice movement, some religious schools in those states are seeing enrollment rise and are planning for a fuller future.
 
FILE - Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen holds a news conference, Nov. 4, 2020, in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska’s top election official has ruled that voters will get to decide this year whether to repeal a law that gives taxpayer money for private school scholarships. But both Evnen and state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who authored the school choice law and sought to have the repeal effort kept off the ballot, acknowledge that the courts will likely ultimately decide if the repeal question makes it onto November’s ballot. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

Question of whether Nebraska public money can go to private schools still set for November ballot

Nebraska’s top election official has ruled voters will get to decide whether to repeal a law that pays for private school tuition scholarships with taxpayer money.
 
FILE - The Tennessee State Capitol stands in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2024. After begrudgingly agreeing to tweak Tennessee's strict abortion ban last year, the Republican-dominant Legislature is once again facing pressure to reconsider when doctors can legally offer the procedure to pregnant patients. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

School voucher ideas expose deep GOP divisions in Tennessee Legislature

Deep divisions remain in the Tennessee GOP over how to implement a universal school voucher program.
 

Alabama House advances bill to give state money for private and home schooling

Alabama lawmakers have advanced a school voucher-like program that could provide eligible families with state dollars to help pay for private school or home school expenses.
 

New Hampshire House rejects broad expansion of school choice program but OK’s income cap increase

The New Hampshire House has given preliminary approval to raising the income cap associated with the state’s school choice program, but it rejected two other attempts to further expand the popular Education Freedom Accounts.
 
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey arrives to deliver the State of the State address at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)

Ivey says ‘now is the time’ for a statewide vote on lottery and gambling bills

Alabama lawmakers have begun the 2024 legislative session with votes on bills pertaining to school vouchers, gambling and elections ahead of them.
 

Gambling, education, election bills before Alabama lawmakers in 2024

Alabama lawmakers return to Montgomery on Tuesday for the 2024 legislative session. School vouchers, gambling, and election bills are expected to be among the key issues this session.
 
Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State address in the House chamber Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee governor pitches school voucher expansion as state revenues stagnate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nearly five years after narrowly convincing lawmakers to allow a select number of families to use tax dollars for private schooling, Tennessee Gov.
 

Nebraska lawmaker behind school choice law targets the process that could repeal it

A Nebraska lawmaker behind a new law that allows public money to go to private school tuition is now targeting the petition referendum process that could see it repealed.
 
Kentucky Rep. Suzanne Miles, left, speaks with a colleague in the House chamber Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Frankfort, Ky. Miles introduced a school choice constitutional amendment that would go on Kentucky's November ballot if it wins legislative approval. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)

Prominent Kentucky lawmaker files bill to put school choice on the statewide ballot in November

A Kentucky lawmaker has filed a proposed constitutional amendment dealing with school choice. It seeks to remove constitutional barriers blocking the state from assisting parents who want to enroll their children in private or charter schools.
 
Students attend a school choice rally at the Kentucky Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Frankfort, Ky. School choice supporters are pushing for a constitutional amendment that would sanction state support for charter or private schools. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)

School choice measure will reach Kentucky’s November ballot, key lawmaker predicts

A House committee chairman in Kentucky is predicting that lawmakers will put a school choice proposal on the November ballot.
 
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks as she delivers the State of the State address at the state Capitol, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Phoenix. Hobbs has proposed requiring students to attend public school for 100 days before becoming eligible for the vouchers in a move designed to rein the voucher program’s skyrocketing costs and reduce the number of participants. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona governor proposes overhauling school vouchers to address growing budget deficit

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has laid out proposals to address the state’s growing budget deficit.
 
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks as she delivers the State of the State address at the state Capitol, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona governor vows to rein in skyrocketing school voucher program, update groundwater laws

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has vowed to bring accountability to a school voucher program that’s expected to top $900 million this year.
 
FILE - Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs delivers her State of the State address at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, Jan. 9, 2023. On Friday, March 3, 2023, Hobbs said corrections officials do not plan to carry out an execution on April 6, 2023, even though the state Supreme Court scheduled it over the objections of the state's new attorney general. Hobbs has ordered a review of death penalty procedures in Arizona due to the state's history of mismanaging executions. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Arizona lawmakers face big deficit due mostly to massive tax cut and school voucher expansion

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature return to the state Capitol on Monday with a nearly $1 billion problem on their hands.
 
FILE -- Social studies teacher Sarah Holloway, left, talks with student Sofia Becerra, 11, and Martha Navarro during sixth-grade orientation at Hammond Creek Middle School in Dalton, Ga., Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Heading into the 2024 session, some rural Republicans say they're still opposed to an education voucher bill proposed in 2023. (Matt Hamilton/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, file)

Some Georgia Republicans who sank an education voucher bill in 2023 aren’t changing their minds

An education voucher bill lost in Georgia’s state House in 2023 because 16 Republicans voted against it.
 
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