School Choice Yearbook 2012–13

School choice Now:

The Power of

educational choice

School choice Yearbook 2012–13

how to USe thiS Yearbook

The School Choice Yearbook is a compendium of the nation’s most accurate data on school voucher and scholarship tax credit programs, an analysis of trends and information regarding school choice, a directory of accountability provisions and requirements for each program, and a chronicle of the past year’s school choice-related events and activities.

Malcom Glenn

randan Swindler

School choice Now:

The Power of

educational choice


School choice now: the power of edUcational choice School Choice Yearbook 2012–13 An Annual Publication

published by: alliance for School choice 1660 l Street, nw, Suite 1000 washington, d.c. 20036 202.280.1990 www.allianceforSchoolchoice.org

copyright © 2013 alliance for School choice. all rights reserved.

authors: Malcom Glenn and randan Swindler with Greg Brock, Scott Jensen, whitney rhoades, Kristen Schuh, and John Schilling, with special thanks to Michelle Gininger

book design: alina Zenn

Printed in the united States of america

First Printing

cover image: Students appear at a rally for educational choice in raleigh, north carolina, on May 22, 2012.

Students rally for educational choice at the state Capitol in

Richmond, Virginia, on February 7, 2012.

Table of ConTenTs

Students celebrate at a National School Choice Week rally in Virginia in February. More than 3,500 events are held across the country during the week each year.


Page 5

P. 5 School choice Now: The Power of educaTional choice

taBle of

contentS6 p The Power of Educational Choice

8 p What Is Educational Choice?

9 p Types of School Choice Programs

11 p Educational Choice Today

16 p School Choice Growth: New and Expanded Programs in 2012

17 p The Research Reality of Educational Choice

19 p Educational Choice in the News

20 p Year in Review

24 p Feature: The Faces of Educational Choice

26 p Feature: Athletes and Educational Choice

28 p Feature: Reach for the Summit

30 p Feature: Timeline of Educational Choice

33 p State Profiles

66 p Accountability Check

68 p Educational Choice Allies

70 p About Us

71 p Sources and Credits


School choice Now: The Power of educaTional choice P. 6

Foreward by Kevin P. Chavous Executive Counsel, Alliance for School Choice

The Power of

educational choiceIn 1990, when the state of Wisconsin enacted the

nation’s first private school choice program, 337

children participated in the voucher program. Today—

thanks to the efforts of parents, advocates, and elected

officials—more children than ever before have access

to educational options, and 245,854 children are

participating in publicly funded private school choice programs all across the country.

From just a single program more than two decades ago, the school choice movement has

grown across the nation, garnering strong bipartisan support at the state, local, and federal

levels. We have a promise to our nation’s children to provide them with a world-class

education. Sadly, too many American children have been left behind in failing, often unsafe

schools. But we can—and have—reversed course. By providing meaningful educational

choices to families—especially low-income families—we can ensure that every child in

America has access to a great education.

The Alliance for School Choice’s 2012–13 Yearbook recounts the trends, data, and latest

research on the 32 publicly funded private school choice programs in 16 states and

Washington, D.C. In the pages of the Yearbook, you will meet the students whose lives

have been changed thanks to access to educational options—and learn how accountability,

new and expanded programs, and public opinion continue to shape our education policy.

Thank you for reading our latest Yearbook and for joining me in the fight to provide our

children with the educational options they deserve.

Sincerely,

Kevin P. Chavous

Wisconsin students who participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice

Program enjoy recess together at their school.



what is educational choice? Educational choice empowers parents to choose the educational setting that best fits their child’s needs, public or private. With educational choice, parents—who would otherwise not have a choice—pick the best schools for their child, whether it’s a traditional public school, an innovative public charter school, or a high-quality private school as a result of a scholarship.

types of educational choice

sChool VouChers

Voucher programs give children (usually children from low-income families, children in failing schools, or children with special needs) greater access to high-quality private schools. In voucher programs, education dollars “follow the child,” and parents select private schools and receive state-funded scholarships to pay tuition.

sCholarship Tax CrediTs

Scholarship tax credit programs give families greater access to high-quality private schools by providing incentives for businesses and individuals to get involved in education reform. In these programs, companies and individuals receive tax credits for donating to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships to students.

eduCaTion saVings aCCounTs

Education savings account programs give parents the power to use their child’s state education dollars on a variety of educational options, including tuition and fees, textbooks, and tutoring. In these programs, families determine how to best use education funding for their children.

CharTer sChools

Charter schools are public schools run by educators, members of the community, or other bodies, using innovative and specialized education programs. These schools have a fair amount of autonomy and operate without the bureaucracy that often plagues traditional public schools.

VirTual sChools

Virtual, or online education, allows students to take one or all school courses online, allowing for more flexibility and options in education.

Magnet SchoolS

Magnet schools are public schools that offer specific education programs, often emphasizing academic subjects like math, science, and technology, or use specific instructional approaches.

indiVidual TuiTion Tax CrediTs

Individual state income tax credits of significant size can be used for a child’s educational expenses, including private school tuition, and can help families choose educational tools they otherwise could not afford.

homeshooling

Homeschooling has long been an educational option for families across the country. With the growth of online education and full curriculum available to parents, homeschooling allows parents the option of tailoring their children’s education at home.

publiC sChool ChoiCe

Public school choice allows students attending poor-performing public schools to attend a higher-performing public school inside or outside the student’s assigned school district. Public school choice is an important option for students assigned to failing schools because of their ZIP code.


Page 9


Types of

School choice ProGraMSPrivate school choice programs—school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts—are

designed to allow parents to choose the best education for their children. The strongest private school choice

programs are specifically designed for disadvantaged children who, without these educational options, would

be stuck in a school that does not meet their individual educational needs. School choice programs are often

designed to help children from low- or medium-income families, children stuck in poorly performing public

schools, or children with special learning needs.

Means-tested Programs

Means-tested programs are designed to serve students from low-income families to attend the school of their parents’

choice. These programs provide access to quality educational options that low-income families would not otherwise have.

Means-preferenced programs give preference to students from low-income families when granting scholarships through

these programs. The following programs help students from low-income families and students from middle-income families.

eighteen of the nation’s 32 private school choice programs are means tested or means preferenced.

VoUcherPrograms

indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program

Louisiana’s Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program*

ohio’s Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program

ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program*

washington, d.C.’s D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program

wisconsin’s Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

wisconsin’s Racine Parental Choice Program

ScholarShipTax Credit Programs

arizona’s Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

indiana’s Corporate and Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Program

iowa’s Individual and Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit

Louisiana’s Tuition Donation Rebate Program*

new hampshire Education Tax Credit

oklahoma’s Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships*

Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit

Pennsylvania’s Educational Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit*

rhode island Corporate Scholarship Tax Credits

virginia Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits



failing Schools Programs

Failing schools programs help students stuck in persistently failing public schools. These programs allow students to attend the private or public school of their parents’ choice, providing immediate educational options to students. Four of the nation’s 32 private school choice programs are failing schools programs.

VoUcherPrograms

Louisiana’s Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program*

ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program*

ScholarShip Tax Credit Programs

oklahoma’s Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships*

edUcation SaVingS accoUnt Programs

arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program*

Special needs Scholarship Programs

Special needs scholarship programs are private school choice programs designed specifically for students with special needs. These programs allow students to attend a public or private school that can address their specific learning needs. eleven of the nation’s 32 private school choice programs are specifically designed to serve students with special needs.

VoUcherPrograms

Florida’s John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program

Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program

Louisiana’s School Choice Pilot Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program

ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program

ohio’s Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program

oklahoma’s Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program

utah’s Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship

ScholarShipTax Credit Programs

arizona’s Lexie’s Law

edUcation SaVingS Account Programs

arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program*

indiVidUal tUition Tax Credits

north Carolina’s Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities

* Some programs are designed to be both failing schools and means tested or means preferenced. In addition, some programs are designed for students with special needs and students stuck in failing schools.

tYpeS of School choice prograMS


Page 11


2012–13 Data

at a glance

* Information in the overall sections is not intended to add up to the numbers in the summary boxes. For example, some states have voucher and tax credit programs. Additionally, funding and student data for special needs scholarships is also included in data for vouchers, scholarship tax credit programs, and education savings account programs.

overaLL: states with Private school Choice Programs 16 + d.C. and douglas County, Co

States with Voucher Programs 9 + D.c. and Douglas county, co

States with Scholarship Tax credit Programs 11

States with education Savings Account Programs 1

States with Special Needs Scholarship Programs 9

overaLL: number of Private school Choice Programs 32

Number of Voucher Programs 16

Number of Scholarship Tax credit Programs 14

Number of education Savings Account Programs 1

Number of Special Needs Scholarship Programs 11

overaLL: Funds expended for Private school Choice Programs $963 million

Funds expended for Voucher Programs $553 million

Funds expended for Scholarship Tax credit Programs $405 million

Funds expended for education Savings Account Programs $5.2 million

Funds expended for Special Needs Scholarship Programs $233 million

overaLL: average scholarship amount in Private school Choice Programs $3,798

Average Scholarship Amount in Voucher Programs $5,686

Average Scholarship Amount in Scholarship Tax credit Programs $2,534

Average Scholarship Amount in education Savings Account Programs $14,000

Average Scholarship Amount in Special Needs Scholarship Programs $7,423

educational choice today Across the country, the momentum of providing educational choices to children has grown to include 32 publicly funded private school choice programs in 16 states and Washington, D.C. In 2012, five new programs were enacted and six programs were expanded. From the statewide expansion of Louisiana’s Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program to Virginia’s first scholarship tax credit program, the momentum of educational choice is ever present as more states work to enact, expand, and strengthen educational choice.



state Program year enacted students in 2012–13 Funds expended in

2012–13

Arizona Arizona empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program 2011 302 $5,200,000

Scholarship Tax Credit Programs in the United States

Education Saving Accounts Programs in the United States


2012–13

Arizona individual School Tuition organization Tax credit 1997 24,327 $45,642,292

Arizona corporate School Tuition organization Tax credit 2006 5,838 $11,375,721

Arizona lexie’s law 2009 120 $585,572

Florida Florida Tax credit Scholarship 2001 50,821 $229,000,000

Georgia Georgia Scholarship Tax credit Program 2008 11,292 $51,500,000

indiana corporate and individual Scholarship Tax credit Program 2009 2,890 $2,542,649

iowa individual and corporate School Tuition organization Tax credit 2006 10,446 $13,461,537

louisiana Tuition Donation Rebate Program 2012 N/A N/A

New hampshire New hampshire education Tax credit 2012 N/A N/A

oklahoma equal opportunity education Scholarships 2011 35 $26,000

Pennsylvania educational improvement Tax credit 2001 42,149 $49,673,584

Pennsylvania educational equal opportunity Scholarship Tax credit 2012 N/A N/A

Rhode island Rhode island corporate Scholarship Tax credit 2006 382 $1,000,000

Virginia education improvement Scholarships Tax credits 2012 N/A N/A

148,300 $404,807,355


Page 13



2012–13

colorado Douglas county choice Scholarship Program 2011 Not Available Not Available

Florida John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 1999 25,366 $157,602,339

Georgia Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program 2007 3,227 $19,094,159

indiana choice Scholarship Program 2011 9,324 $38,695,761

louisiana Student Scholarships for educational excellence 2008 4,963 $25,342,680

louisiana School choice Pilot Program for certain Students with exceptionalities 2010 197 $432,683

Mississippi Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia 2012 13 $65,234

ohio cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program 1995 6,513 $24,400,000

ohio Autism Scholarship Program 2003 2,241 $36,000,000

ohio educational choice Scholarship Program 2005 17,057 $66,000,000

ohio Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program 2011 1,371 $8,900,000

oklahoma lindsey Nicole henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program 2010 197 $1,200,000

Utah carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship 2005 672 $3,750,000

washington, D.c. D.c. opportunity Scholarship Program 2004 1,584 $13,434,625

wisconsin Milwaukee Parental choice Program 1990 24,027 $154,800,000

wisconsin Racine Parental choice Program 2011 500 $3,221,000

97,252 $552,938,481

Voucher Programs in the United States

Voucher Programs

Education Savings Account Programs

Individual Income Tax Credit

Scholarship Tax Credit Programs

Special Needs Programs

SA

States with

School choice prograMS

Voucher Programs

education Savings Account Programs

individual income Tax credit

Scholarship Tax credit Programs

Special Needs Programs

At least one program in the state is designed to serve students with special needs.



32 Private

School choice prograMS

0

5

10

15

20

16

8Special Needs

1Special Needs

1Special Needs

14

1 Special Needs

13General

8General

Vouchers ScholarshipTax Credits

EducationSavings Accounts

Individual TuitionTax Credits*

* Individual Tuition Tax Credits: an individual state income tax credit of significant size for educational expenses, including private school tuition. While individual tuition tax credits currently exist in a small number of states, the Alliance only officially counts North Carolina’s Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities because it is the first credit that is sufficiently large enough to affect a family’s ability to place their child in private school.

Growth in States with

priVate School choice prograMS

0

5

10

15

20

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012


Page 15


Recent Student Enrollment

growth in School choice prograMS

29,003

55,373

81,52490,613

96,528108,705

126,519

158,725171,478

182,608190,811

210,524

245,854

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11

2009–10

2008–09

2007–08

2006–07

2005–06

2004–05

2003–04

2002–03

2001–02

2000–01

2012–13 Scholarship

recipientS bY State

Florida

Pennsylvania

Arizona

Ohio

Wisconsin

Georgia

Indiana

Iowa

Louisiana

Washington, D.C.

Utah

Rhode Island

Oklahoma

Mississippi

76,187

42,149

27,182

30,587

24,527

14,519

10,446

5,160

1,584

672

13

232

382

12,214

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000



School choice growth: New and Expanded Programs in 2012

New ProGraMs in 2012 expaNded ProGraMs in 2012

tUition donation rebate prograMA scholarship tax rebate program for students from low-income families

edUcational opportUnitY ScholarShip tax creditA scholarship tax credit program for students from low- and middle-income families who attend the state’s worst-performing public schools

edUcation iMproVeMent ScholarShipS tax creditSA scholarship tax credit program for students from low- and middle-income families

MiSSiSSippi dYSlexia therapY ScholarShipA voucher program for students with dyslexia

new haMpShire edUcation tax creditA scholarship tax credit program for students from low- and middle-income families

StUdent ScholarShipS for edUcational excellence prograMExpanded student eligibility from just New Orleans to include students all across the state who meet income and other guidelines

edUcational iMproVeMent tax credit• Expanded student eligibility by increasing family

income guidelines

• Increased the donor tax credit cap and statewide cap

arizona eMpowerMent ScholarShip accoUntS prograMExpanded student eligibility from just special needs students to include students attending D- or F-rated public schools, students of military personnel, and foster care children (including those who have been adopted or permanently placed)

indiVidUal School tUition organization tax creditDoubled the donor tax credit cap to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for married couples

cleVeland ScholarShip and tUtoring prograMExpanded the scholarship amount by eliminating the parent contribution portion of the scholarship amount

florida tax credit ScholarShip• Expanded the statewide cap on donations by $10.25 million

in the 2012–13 school year

• Expanded student eligibility by eliminating the public school attendance requirement for students in grades 2-5

• Expanded accountability requirements by allowing schools to administer the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test


Page 17


the research reality of educational choice

Of Note: A study by the Brookings Institution and Harvard University found that African-American students participating in the privately funded New York School Choice Scholarships Foundation Program were 24 percent more likely to enroll in college as a result of receiving a voucher. In addition, African-American enrollment rates in selective colleges more than doubled among voucher students, and the rate of enrollment in full-time colleges increased by 31 percent.

gradUation rateS

• In the last federal study of the Washington, D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, students who participated in the program graduated at a rate of 91 percent—more than 20 percentage points higher than those interested in the program who did not receive scholarships and more than 30 percentage points higher than the graduation rate of students in D.C. Public Schools. Subsequent data released by the program administration for 2009–10 and 2010–11 showed a 94 percent graduation rate for participating students, with 89 percent of students attending a two-or four-year college or university.

• Students participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program boast a higher graduation rate—more than 7.2 percentage points higher—than the graduation rate of students in Milwaukee Public Schools. According to an independent evaluation of the program, students participating in the voucher program are also more likely to enroll in a four-year college and persist in college.

pUblic opinion

A May 2012 poll sponsored by the American Federation for Children and the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options found that 85 percent of likely voters and 91 percent of Latinos in five states—Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Nevada—think vouchers and scholarship tax credit programs should be available in some form, while majorities of likely voters and Latinos also support specific educational choice proposals. Support is especially high for special needs scholarship programs, which are favored by 74 percent of voters and 80 percent of Latino voters.

100 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

OF LATINOSSUPPORT

71%

OF LATINOSOPPOSE

26%

SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS

OF VOTERSSUPPORT

65%

OF VOTERSOPPOSE

31%

EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAMS

100 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

OF LATINOSSUPPORT

70%

OF LATINOSOPPOSE

26%

OF VOTERSSUPPORT

60%

OF VOTERSOPPOSE

31%

100 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

74%

OF VOTERSSUPPORT

OF LATINOSSUPPORT

78%

OF VOTERSOPPOSE

23%

OF LATINOSOPPOSE

22%

SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS

VOUCHER PROGRAMS

100 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

OF LATINOSSUPPORT

69%

OF LATINOSOPPOSE

29%

OF VOTERSSUPPORT

57%

OF VOTERSOPPOSE

39%



parental SatiSfaction

Because educational choice is about empowering families to choose the best education for their children, measuring how happy parents are about the education their children are receiving is vital in gauging the success of private school choice. Parents report high satisfaction rates of their children’s academic progress thanks to private school choice programs all across the country.

0

20

40

60

80

100

92.8% 91.0% 93.4% 97.2% 96.9%

p Georgia scholarship Tax Credit Program: 92.8 percent of parents are satisfied with the overall academic progress of their children’s scholarship school.

p d.C. opportunity scholarship Program: 91.0 percent of parents are somewhat or very happy with their current scholarship school in the 2011–12 school year.

p Louisiana’s student scholarships for educational excellence Program: 93.4 percent of parents are satisfied or very satisfied with their child’s school.

p Florida scholarship Tax Credit: 97.2 percent of parents are somewhat or very happy with their current scholarship school in the 2012–13 school year.

p wisconsin’s racine Parental Choice Program: 96.9 percent of parents are satisfied or completely satisfied with their child’s school in the 2012–13 school year.

acadeMic achieVeMent

• Students participating in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, who tended to be the lowest-performing students at low-performing public schools, achieved gains in reading and math on par with all students nationally—not just students from low-income families.

• Over a four-year period, students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program had higher achievement growth in reading than similar students in Milwaukee Public Schools.

• Students participating in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program made statistically significant gains in reading, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Education. In fact, voucher students gained approximately 3.1 months of additional learning in reading over their public school peers.

Georgia

washington, d

.C.

Louisiana

Florida

wisconsin


Page 19


Educational choicE in thE nEws

“[Scholarships] allow lower-income parents to use a portion of their allotted per-pupil education aid at a different school if the one to which their child is assigned is a bad fit. That is not anti-school or anti-education. It is pro-child.”

- The Union Leader (NH), august 6, 2012

“It’s working in Milwaukee. It’s working in Indiana and other places in the United States. It’s always worked in the majority of the industrialized nations of the world. Why not here? Why not recognize that education always works better when children attend schools where they want to be and their parents get to choose?”

- School director david larsen, Chicago Tribune, august 14, 2012

“Elected officials from both parties are so fed up with the status quo of failing schools that they’re abandoning the politics of left-right polarization and challenging the entrenched power of teachers unions. Republicans like [Louisiana Gov. Bobby] Jindal and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are fighting for school reform on parallel lines with Democrats like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.”

- author and journalist Juan williams, Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2012

“By empowering parents, school choice gives them real power to improve their children’s lives, resulting in greater parental involvement and increased satisfaction. As graduation rates have gone up for participating families, increased interest in school choice has developed across the board, but notably among leaders of minority communities, whose children are tragically ill-served by the existing government monopoly over public education.”

- institute for Justice attorney dick komer, USA Today, June 27, 2012

“I hold no allegiance to a school delivery model. I really don’t care if you’re a charter school a magnet school, a traditional district school. The question is: Are you providing a quality education?”

- newark Mayor cory booker, Asbury Park Press (NJ), February 28, 2012



Year in review It would take a great deal, prognosticators surmised at the beginning of 2012, for the educational choice expansions in a single year to top the advancements that took place in 2011. That year, new private school opportunities were created for nearly 20,000 new students nationwide. But like a snowball, momentum builds exponentially, and the size of the coalition to bring quality educational options to families around the country grew stronger than ever in 2012, resulting in the largest increase in the number of students enrolled in publicly funded private school choice programs we’ve ever seen.

The advocates who worked to help the more than 245,000 students enrolled in these programs all across the country represent a diverse cross section of Americans with different backgrounds, stories, and political leanings, all united around the understanding that every child in this country—regardless of where they live or how much money their family makes—deserves access to a high-quality education.

Building upon the success of a year ago, lawmakers created five brand-new private school choice programs and strengthened six more. But it was not just elected officials who stood up for children in 2012—in Georgia, citizens stood on the side of more educational options by supporting a key statewide charter school authorizing board during the November elections, while thousands more ordinary people have stood up for educational choice in their own communities.

loUiSiana goeS big, bipartiSan in expanding choice Statewide

In a state known for its ability to come together in support of the greater

good, Louisiana lawmakers stayed true to their reputation in the spring

of 2012 when, on the strength of bipartisan support from both chambers,

the legislature passed a sweeping statewide expansion of the Student

Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. Once a lifeline for children

from low-income families in Orleans Parish, the voucher program not only

opened its eligibility to families across the state, but it expanded to include a

broader set of students who could participate.

The result? More than 380,000 students—all of whom hail from low-income

families and/or failing schools—could now apply for the program. After a

truncated enrollment period, more than 10,400 students ultimately applied,

and nearly 5,000 of them enrolled in the program in the fall of 2012.

But it’s not just what Louisiana legislators did, it’s how they did it—in a

remarkably bipartisan fashion. Because when Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the

legislation into law last year, he was doing so after it received the votes of

a dozen House Democrats and nearly half of the Democrats in the Senate.

This from a legislature that also enacted a scholarship tax rebate program in

the same session, creating even more options for Louisiana families in the

years ahead.

loUiSiana


Page 21


in arizona, new Strength defineS one-of-itS-kind School choice prograM

2012 was known not just for its new programs, but also for dramatic

expansions. In addition to the significant increase in eligibility that took place

in Louisiana, residents in another state with a long history of educational

choice success saw new expanded eligibility for families in need.

Just over a year after Arizona became home to the first and only

education savings account program—a unique program giving parents

unprecedented control over their child’s educational outcome—this

landmark school choice offering was expanded last year. From just 142

students enrolled in the 2011–12 school year to hundreds of thousands

more eligible in the 2013–14 school year, the remarkable increase came

as a result of legislative action that transformed the Empowerment

Scholarship Accounts Program from a special needs program to one also

serving students attending failing schools, students of military personnel,

and foster care children—including those who have been adopted or

permanently placed.

The program’s improvements, which came just as the 2011–12 school year

concluded in May, set the stage for a summer of heavy enrollment increases

from families all across the state. Coupled with increased enrollment in

Arizona’s other private school choice programs—thanks in part to an

expansion of the Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit—the

Grand Canyon State boasts higher enrollment in private school choice

programs in the 2012–13 school year than in any year in history.

arizona

Virginia JoinS edUcational choice fold, enactS ScholarShip tax credit prograM

Even before the snow had thawed from winter, hundreds of parents,

students, and advocates joined Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in February

for a rally at the state Capitol to express their support for the creation of a

scholarship tax credit program. Less than a month later, their voices

were heard.

On February 29, 2012, a bipartisan coalition in the Virginia House of

Delegates passed the bill that would create the new private school choice

program, the first such program in the Old Dominion State. Weeks later,

Gov. McDonnell’s signature cemented Virginia as what was, at the time, the

14th state with a publicly funded private school choice program in America.

Virginia



a new MileStone in florida and an anniVerSarY booSt in ohio

Bipartisanship has been the order of the day in Florida, allowing the Florida Tax Credit

Scholarship to serve more children every year. The ability of lawmakers to work together is

still paying dividends for children—to the tune of more than 50,000 students.

That’s the number of kids enrolled in the scholarship program in the 2012–13

school year, after legislators—once again in a bipartisan manner—passed a bill

increasing the cap on donations to the program. And with a provision in place

that will prompt the scholarship cap to increase by an additional 25 percent if,

as expected, donations keep pace with previous years, the future is bright for the

nation’s largest private school choice program.

This past year also marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark Zelman v. Simmons-

Harris U.S. Supreme Court case, which affirmed the constitutionality of school

voucher programs. The celebration of the case, which upheld the Cleveland voucher

program, coincided with a provision that strengthened the program by eliminating

the parent contribution portion of the scholarship amount. In theory, this meant that

families who previously could not afford the contribution could now participate in the

program. In practice, it means that more than 910 more students than last year are

now getting a better education as a result of the program.

florida & ohio

MiSSiSSippi legislators enacted a voucher program designed for children with dyslexia—a disorder

where the brain does not properly recognize and process symbols, often resulting in difficulty with reading.

Students in grades 1-6 who have been diagnosed with dyslexia are eligible to receive a scholarship to

attend a public or private school that provides therapy for dyslexia.

In new haMpShire, the legislature overrode a veto from the governor, thereby creating a scholarship tax credit

program for students from low- and middle-income families to receive up to $2,500 to attend the private school of

their parents’ choice. Under the program, businesses can receive a tax credit equal to 85 percent of their donations.

And not to be outdone were two significant developments from the Keystone State. In pennSYlVania, legislators created the Educational Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit, a new program serving students in the

state’s worst-performing schools. It’s an important complement to the original private school choice program in

Pennsylvania—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit—which also saw improvements in 2012 that broadened

eligibility. Both the new program and the changes to the old one came as a part of the state’s annual budget.

All told, 2012 will be remembered as the year when a quarter of a million students gained access to quality

educational options as a result of private school choice. Fully cemented as an integral part of the education

reform movement, educational choice is proving to be a catalyst for positive change that is transforming

the lives of the neediest children around the country—for the better.

More where that caMe froM…

A student in Arizona looks on during a January rally.

Two of Arizona’s private school choice programs were

strengthened in 2012.

FaceS oF educational choiceThe

P. 24

Jaevion * Grade: 2nd * ScholarShiP: indiana’S choice ScholarShip prograM

In its second year, the Choice Scholarship Program in Indiana enrolled more than 9,300 students in the

program, compared to nearly 4,000 students in the program’s first year. One of those students participating in

the program is Jaevion.

“As a single mother, I had lost the ability to not just give my son the great education he deserved, but to finance

an appropriate and fitting education for Jaevion,” said Jeronna, Jaevion’s mother. “Up until recently, Jaevion and

I were homeless. During that time, I didn’t think sending my son to a school where he would thrive would even

be possible, but then, the voucher program came along and there was renewed hope that Jaevion could receive

the quality education I have always wanted for him.”

The teaching strategy that Jaevion’s school uses has encouraged his desire to learn more and to earn better

grades. In fact, Jaevion now enjoys attending school every day and is more committed than ever before to

improving his reading skills.

Said Jaevion’s mother: “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Jaevion is exactly where he needs to be in order to

thrive academically.”

Sara ashley * Grade: 5th * ScholarShiP: georgia Special needS ScholarShip

Throughout kindergarten, Sara Ashley struggled with daily learning activities, including counting and verbal

recognition. She had difficulty focusing and was placed into special learning classes. While attending a public

school in her neighborhood, she was unable to get the one-on-one attention she needed to overcome her

ADHD and dyslexia. Frustrated by her minimal improvements, Sara Ashley’s parents decided to explore private

school options that could better address her learning needs.

Thanks to the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, they were able to place her in The Bedford School in Fairburn,

Georgia, which focuses primarily on educating students with specific learning disabilities. Within weeks of

enrolling in Bedford’s specialized classes, Sara Ashley was retaining knowledge and gaining confidence. Today,

she excels in math and loves art, and she even landed a role in the annual school play. Sara Ashley’s parents

recognize the importance of the individualized learning the scholarship has given them and thousands more

families across Georgia.

raunel * Grade: 10th * ScholarShiP: racine parental choice prograM

Raunel, a sophomore at Shoreland Lutheran High School in Somers, Wisconsin, hasn’t always excelled in

school. At his previous school, he struggled, especially when it came to reading and writing. Now, he’s thriving

thanks to the Racine Parental Choice Program. Since he began receiving his scholarship last school year, Raunel

has improved in English, earned his way into the Honors Study Hall, and joined the AV club.

“Last year, I learned right away that the teachers were willing to help me if I had any questions,” Raunel said.

“So I asked questions.”

The Racine Parental Choice Program was created in 2011 and modeled after the highly effective Milwaukee

Parental Choice Program. Raunel is one of 500 students participating in the program—the cap on the number

of students allowed to participate. Next school year, the enrollment cap will be removed, providing hundreds

more students like Raunel with the opportunity they deserve.

P. 25

anthony * Grade: 11th * ScholarShiP: florida ScholarShip tax credit prograM

Anthony’s family moved from Ohio to Florida just to participate in the Florida Scholarship Tax Credit program.

Their goal was to find the school that could best serve Anthony, who has Asperger’s syndrome.

“Before I started going to Liberty Christian Academy, I thought it was normal that kids didn’t accept kids like me,

or that all teachers didn’t know just how to deal with someone who was different,” Anthony said. “I didn’t like

school…my mom didn’t know what to do until she heard about Step Up For Students in Florida. Once I qualified,

she applied for the scholarship and I started at Liberty Christian part way into my sophomore year. The kids there

are accepting of different people.”

Anthony isn’t only fitting in better, but he’s excelling in extracurricular activities, having been elected as the vice

president of Liberty’s National Honor Society chapter. Anthony says that while his new school is definitely a

“challenge,” he’s “ready to step up and rise to the occasion.”

a’bria * Grade: 10th * ScholarShiP: cleVeland ScholarShip and tUtoring prograM

A’bria, a high school sophomore, is excited for her future ahead, and she has reason to be. That reason is simple:

she has big plans, specifically to become a lawyer or a pediatrician. But before she gets there, she recognizes that

she has to go to college. Right now, she’s got her sights set on Miami University in Ohio—or, maybe Harvard.

She loves learning history and algebra, and she’s where she is today in large part because of the amazing

opportunity she received a decade ago, when A’bria’s mom Sheryl applied for the Cleveland Scholarship and

Tutoring Program as A’bria was entering kindergarten. A’bria continues to receive the scholarship today, and she

says she’s grateful to have such supportive teachers.

“The relationships that I have formed with my teachers can lead to greater academic success,” A’bria said. “I

admire the fact that the teachers are so committed to their job of not only teaching but building a personal

relationship with each student.”

lamar * Grade: kindergarten * ScholarShiP: d.c. opportUnitY ScholarShip prograM

Lamar, who began kindergarten this year in Washington, D.C., loves nature, science, and especially plants. His

mother, Tiarra, wanted to make sure that Lamar was in an environment where he could continue to develop

those interests, and as a result, she applied for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program last year.

Now, Lamar attends the Preparatory School of D.C. thanks to the program, something that wouldn’t be the case

without the perseverance of his mom, whose application this year was her second try, after Lamar didn’t qualify

for the program last school year. She applied again this year and was excited to learn that Lamar had received

a scholarship.

Lamar is excelling at the Preparatory School, though he’s just one of the nearly 1,500 students whose life has

changed as a result of educational choice in the nation’s capital. If he stays in the program, Lamar’s chances for

future success are bright—students in the program are more than 30 percentage points more likely to graduate

from high school than their D.C. public school peers.

FaceS oF educational choiceNo conversation about the success of educational choice is complete without stories

about its actual beneficiaries—the students. Here are just a few of the amazing stories

of kids who, thanks to their life-changing scholarships, are reaching new heights.

featUre:

They’re known for their moves on the court and on the playing field. Using a combination of

instincts, acquired skill, and bestowed talents, the world’s great athletes move gracefully in the

pursuit of a shared goal. They draw up plays to win, and those plays invariably break down, but

they don’t panic—they innovate.

It’s no surprise, then, that they’ve applied the principles of their craft to other facets of their

lives, too. And while it’s common to see athletes take their off-the-court (or field) careers toward

forays in business, broadcasting, or coaching, four of the country’s most prominent players are

leading a different charge: the one to bring improved educational options to the children most

in need.

As the educational choice movement grew in 2012, so did its unique coalition of supporters.

Learn about the opportunities these athletes are helping to create in order to ensure that every

child has the foundation for a winning future in education.

JAlEn RoseCollege: University of Michigan;

member of the “Fab Five” from

1992–1993

Pros: NBA small forward and

shooting guard for six teams from

1994–2007

While he may be most recognized for his role as an NBA superstar, Jalen Rose

has a dynamic background that includes founding a charter school, helping

at-risk youth, and giving back to his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. By all

accounts, Jalen is a true leader in the movement to improve our nation’s

education system.

Jalen prides himself on being a college graduate and works locally to ensure that

youth in Detroit have the same opportunity to earn a college degree. Noticing

a decline in the city’s educational system, Jalen took it upon himself to start the

Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, an open enrollment, public charter school,

in 2011. The Academy provides a leadership-focused education that aims to

transform Detroit’s community into a thriving economic landscape. Through

his work in Detroit, Jalen has encouraged other athletes to play a larger role in

education reform in their local communities and across the nation.

In July of 2012, he joined with dozens of athletes in advance of ESPN’s ESPY

Awards in Los Angeles to discuss the plight of our education system. He’s now

working with the Alliance for School Choice to further broaden the coalition of

former athletes ready to make great change for children.

sTaTs:

athleteS and

educational choice

P. 26

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie is widely known for her slam-dunk

basketball career in the WNBA—literally—when, in 2002, she became the first

player to dunk a ball in a WNBA game. She did a lot during her 12-year professional

career, including winning multiple championships and MVP awards.

Lisa’s passion for winning, however, is perhaps only matched by her passion for

fostering the next generation of leaders through quality education and challenging

academic settings. Through her work with the Alliance for School Choice, Lisa has

taken on a new role as an outspoken advocate for educational choice.

She has committed herself to putting all options—whether they be traditional

public, public charter, or private—on the table to help kids. Using her platform as an

international sports star, Lisa travels around the country to highlight the successes

of educational choice for families in need.

liSA LesLieCollege: University of Southern California

Pros: WNBA center for Los Angeles Sparks from 1997–2009, four-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time WNBA Champion, three-time WNBA MVP

sTaTs:

GrEG JenningsCollege: Western Michigan University

Pros: NFL wide receiver for Green

Bay Packers from 2006–present,

2010 Super Bowl Champion

Proud father of four, NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings knows first-hand the

importance of quality education. Greg keeps a busy schedule playing for the Green

Bay Packers, having won a Super Bowl and twice being selected as a Pro Bowler. In

2008, he and his wife decided to create the Greg Jennings Foundation in order to put

a renewed focus on helping students in their local communities.

The foundation focuses on impacting children’s lives through education in the Green

Bay area and works with at-risk youth to provide them with resources to reach their

full academic potential. By assisting families with after-school programs, college

preparation courses, and information on maintaining healthy lifestyles, Greg and his

foundation have put the focus on meeting the educational needs of students.

Recognizing that all students learn in their own unique way, Greg and his foundation

have been stewards for educational options that include supplemental learning and

after-school programs. For his work on and off the field, Greg is a true all-pro.

sTaTs:

SAm MitcheLLCollege: Mercer University

Pros: NBA small forward for three

teams from 1989–2002, NBA

coach for Toronto Raptors from

2004–2008, 2007 NBA Coach of

the Year

Former NBA player and coach Sam Mitchell has always been a leader. In college, he

was the catalyst for his team appearing in the NCAA Tournament. In the NBA, he

was named Coach of the Year in 2007. But Sam’s leadership dreams always included

giving back to his community, too.

And, in 2004, he partnered with a longtime friend, Marc Upshaw, to make that dream

a reality, and it came in the form of the SaMarc Dream and Achieve Foundation.

Aimed at encouraging children to dream big, the foundation boasts an impressive

array of community services and activities related to improving educational

opportunities for students in his native Georgia.

Every summer, the pair team up to host the Foundation’s annual basketball camp,

which invites children to participate in sports training activities, but also teaches them

important life lessons like the value of a quality education. The Foundation also works

in local communities to provide classroom materials to schools and educational tours

to students, and it has established learning centers throughout the state of Georgia.

sTaTs:

P. 27

in itS third Year, new heightS for the SUMMit

Over the last three years, the American Federation for Children

and Alliance for School Choice’s annual National Policy Summit

has become the nation’s premier educational choice event. First

hosted in 2010 in Washington, D.C., the Summit brings together

a diverse group of elected officials, business and policy leaders,

philanthropists, and members of the media to discuss the

importance of giving parents all across the country access to high-

quality educational options. And, each year it welcomes hundreds

of new educational choice supporters into the fold.

In 2012, the Summit featured an array of leaders—ranging from

governors to mayors to business leaders, media commentators,

and researchers—all discussing the movement to provide families

with more educational options. Attendees descended upon Jersey

City, NJ, a hotbed of recent education reform conversation, to

engage in the most forward-thinking, bipartisan discussion of the

current state of reform and educational choice, and how to best

move forward in the months that followed.

bipartiSan breakthroUghS

On the heels of Louisiana’s statewide voucher expansion in the

spring of 2012, Governor Bobby Jindal (R) addressed the crowd and

shared his deep-rooted passion for quality education reform. His

own upbringing as the son of immigrants encouraged him to focus

on academics as the key to success. The audience also heard from

Cory Booker (D), mayor of neighboring Newark, as he enraptured

the crowd by sharing insight into his efforts as mayor and how he

works locally to inspire children to focus on their education, as well

as how he has pushed for additional educational options in his

home state.

A keynote address from political commentator and author Juan

Williams inspired the crowd as Williams spoke about the urgent

need for an overhaul of the education system in America. He also

focused on his own educational journey as the foundation for his

featUre:

reach for the SuMMit

P. 28

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D)

Author and Commentator Juan Williams New Jersey Gov. Chris Chritie (R)

appreciation of opportunities to excel in life. And of course, there to

enthrall the audience was New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R),

making his second Summit appearance in three years. A national

leader on education reform, Christie called on special interests

to stop standing in the way of opportunities for children, and he

renewed his push to bring more educational choice to New Jersey.

Also taking the stage were state legislators from all across the

country, as well as a bipartisan panel of school administrators,

CEOs, renowned researchers, and other advocates. These

national leaders spoke to the significant role of education in their

upbringing, sharing their personal stories of hardships growing

up and how education was the key to creating a life filled with

opportunity and success.

inSpiration in action

Perhaps the most striking words in 2012, however, came from

someone who has never run for office, never appeared on “Meet

the Press,” never owned her own business, and someone who had

not, until recently, ever voted in an election. That’s because Valerie

Denton Moore is still a student, yet it was her words that were

most inspiring of all. Rising up from a troubled neighborhood in

Milwaukee and using a scholarship through the Milwaukee voucher

program to attend a high-achieving school, she excelled, enrolled in

college at Emory University, and is now thriving as she prepares to

graduate and enter the world of nursing.

The first person in her family ever to attend college, Valerie

expressed thanks not just for her own success, but also for the

success that efforts to promote educational choice will have on

others like her. Said Valerie at the Summit: “Everyone should have

the opportunity to be educated the same as someone who is not of

a low-income family.”

More to coMe

For all the highlights in 2012, this year’s event, to be held on Monday,

May 20, and Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Washington, D.C., expects to

be even more energizing, inspiring, and influential for the educational

choice movement and its supporters all across the country.

Visit www.aFCPolicysummit.com to learn more about the 2013

National Policy Summit and past events, as well as how you can

attend, get involved in the effort, and spread the word about the

importance of educational choice.

P. 29

Former California State Sen. Gloria Romero (D)

Former Indiana Superintendent Tony Benett (R) Virginia Delegate Algie Howell(D)

1995—

The Cleveland Scholarship and

Tutoring Program, the second publicly

funded private school choice program in

the nation, is created in Ohio’s biennial

budget.

1999—

Florida enacts the nation’s first private

school choice program specifically tailored to students with special needs.

2002—

The United States Supreme Court

upholds the constitutionality

of school voucher programs

in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris.

2005—

More than 100,000 students participate in private school choice programs across

the nation.

—Utah creates the Carson Smith Special

Needs Scholarship.The program is named after an autistic student, who, thanks to the program, attends the

Pingree School for Children with Autism.

—Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship

Program—the state’s third school choice program—is enacted.

The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program—the

nation’s first and longest-running

voucher program—is enacted.

—1990

The first scholarship tax credit program is created in Arizona,

which allows individuals to donate

to School Tuition Organizations that

provide scholarships to students to attend

private school.

—1997

More than 50,000 students participate in private school choice

programs across the nation.

—The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

is signed into law, creating the nation’s most accountable

scholarship tax credit program and a model for the nation.

—Pennsylvania’s Educational

Improvement Tax Credit goes into effect.

—2001

President George W. Bush signs the D.C. Opportunity

Scholarship Program into law, creating the first federally funded

voucher program in the nation. The

program boasts a 91 percent graduation

rate for participating students.

—2004

featUre:

tiMeline of educational choice

P. 30

2009—

Indiana creates a scholarship tax credit program and Arizona’s Lexie’s

Law transitions into a scholarship tax credit program.

2007—

Georgia and Rhode Island each create

private school choice programs—a

special needs voucher program

and a means-tested scholarship tax credit program, respectively.

2011—

The Wall Street Journal calls 2011 “The Year of School Choice.”

—Seven new programs are enacted,

including Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program, Wisconsin’s Racine Parental Choice Program, and Ohio’s Jon Peterson Special

Needs Scholarship Program. In addition, 11 programs are expanded, including the D.C.

Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Iowa and Arizona each enact

means-tested scholarship tax

credit programs.

—2006

Louisiana and Oklahoma each enact special needs voucher

programs.

—2010

The Georgia Scholarship Tax

Credit Program is enacted, and a New Orleans scholarship

program is enacted in Louisiana.

—2008

There are now 32 private school choice programs in 16 states and the

District of Columbia, serving 245,854 children.

—Louisiana expands its Student

Scholarships for Educational Excellence program statewide and enacts a scholarship tax rebate program.

—Pennsylvania expands its Educational

Improvement Tax Credit program and creates the Educational

Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit.

—Arizona expands its educational savings account program and its individual

scholarship tax credit program.

—Mississippi, Virginia, and New

Hampshire create new private school choice programs, and Florida and

Ohio strengthen existing programs.

—2012

P. 31

Table of ConTenTs

Wisconsin voucher students pose for a photo outside of their school. Nearly 25,000 students are enrolled in the state’s two private school choice programs in the 2012–13 school year.

P. 34 arizona

P. 38 colorado

P. 39 florida

P. 41 georgia

P. 43 indiana

P. 45 iowa

P. 46 louisiana

P. 49 Mississippi

P. 50 new hampshire

P. 51 north carolina

P. 52 ohio

P. 56 oklahoma

P. 58 pennsylvania

P. 60 rhode island

P. 61 Utah

P. 62 Virginia

P. 63 washington, d.c.

P. 64 wisconsin

by Program Provisions, Student Participation, and data updates

School choice ProGraMS



prograM tYpe

Scholarship tax credit – Individual

StUdent eligibilitY

None specified in law Requirements may be determined by School Tuition Organizations Private school students also eligible

ScholarShip tUition organization (Sto) reqUireMentS

Use at least 90 percent of contributions for scholarships

Make scholarships available for more than one school

May allow donors to recommend student beneficiaries but shall not award, designate, or reserve scholarships solely on the basis of donor recommendations

Cannot exchange recommendations of student beneficiaries with other donors

Report annually to the state:

• Data on accepted contributions, grants awarded, dollar amount of scholarships granted to students who qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program, dollar amount of scholarships granted to those students whose household income falls between 185 percent and 342 percent of the federal poverty level ($42,643 and $78,831 for a family of four in 2012), amount of money being held for identified student scholarships in future years, list of participating schools with the number and dollar amount of scholarship awards received, the salary of the STO’s top three officials for the fiscal year, and proof of independent review of financial statements by a certified public accountant

School reqUireMentS

Comply with state private school regulations, including nondiscrimination and health and safety codes

ScholarShip cap

Tuition only

tax credit ValUe

100 percent of donation

donor tax credit cap

$1,000 single

$2,000 married couple

Statewide cap

None

Year enacted

1997

arizona: individuaL sChooL TuiTion orGanizaTion Tax CrediT exPanded

ProGraM

1998–99

1999–00

2000–01

2001–02

2002–03

2003–04

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

128

3,365

15,081

18,049

19,559

20,134

21,146

22,529

24,678

27,153

28,321

27,582

27,476

25,343

24,327

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

sTudenT ParTiCiPaTion

Scholarships Awarded 24,327*

Schools Participating 936*

STos operating 48*

2012 expenditures $45,642,292*

daTa uPdaTe

*Alliance Estimate


Page 35


prograM tYpe

Scholarship tax credit – Corporate

• Means tested

StUdent eligibilitY

Family income cannot exceed 185 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program ($78,889 for a family of four in 2012) Attended public school the previous year or entering kindergarten


Use at least 90 percent of contributions for scholarships Make scholarships available for more than one school Must allow the state to verify that scholarships are awarded to students attending a qualified school Report annually to the state:

• Data on accepted contributions, grants awarded, amount of money being held for identified student scholarships in future years, list of participating schools with the number and dollar amount of scholarship awards received, salary of the STO’s top three officials for the fiscal year, and proof of independent review of financial statements by a certified public accountant

School reqUireMentS

Comply with state private school regulations, including nondiscrimination and health and safety codes Require teachers to be fingerprinted

ScholarShip cap

$4,900 – grades K–8 $6,200 – grades 9–12 Caps increase by $100 each year

tax credit ValUe

100 percent of donation


None

Statewide cap

$29.86 million (FY 2013) 20 percent annual increase each year

Year enacted

2006

arizona: CorPoraTe sChooL TuiTion orGanizaTion Tax CrediT

2006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–13

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

351,947

2,9673,6523,626

5,8384,578


Scholarships Awarded 5,838*


STos operating 21*


daTa uPdaTe

*Alliance Estimate



prograM tYpe

* Scholarship tax credit – Corporate

•Special needs and foster children

StUdent eligibilitY

* Students who received vouchers under Arizona’s two previous voucher programs (for foster children and students with disabilities) receive priority in scholarships

* Attended public school as a full-time student for 100 days prior to the fiscal year

* Students must:

•Have been placed in foster care at any time before the student graduates from high school or obtains a GED, or

•Have been identified as having a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, identified by a school district as a student with a disability, or identified as eligible to receive disability services from a school district

School tUition organization (Sto) reqUireMentS

* Use at least 90 percent of contributions for scholarships

* Make scholarships available for more than one school

* Allow the state to verify that scholarships are awarded to students attending a qualified school

* Annually report to the state:

•Data on accepted contributions, grants awarded, amount of money being held for identified student scholarships in future years, list of participating schools with the number and dollar amount of scholarship awards received, salary of the STO’s top three officials for the fiscal year, and proof of independent review of financial statements by a certified public accountant

School reqUireMentS

* Must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, familial status, or national origin, and must satisfy the requirements prescribed by federal law for private schools

ScholarShip cap

* Whichever is less:

•Tuition of private school

•90 percent of the cost to send the child to public school

tax credit ValUe

* 100 percent of donation


* None

Statewide cap

* $5 million

Year enacted

* 2009

•In 2009, this program transitioned from a voucher program to a scholarship tax credit program. Student enrollment data for years before 2009–10 is for the voucher program.

arizona: Lexie’s Law

2006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–13

0 100 200 300 400 500

40359

439112

145

120115


Scholarships Awarded 120*


STos operating 5*

2012 expenditures $585,572*

daTa uPdaTe

*Alliance Estimate


Page 37


prograM tYpe

* Education savings account

•Special needs and foster care

• Active duty military families

•Failing schools

StUdent eligibilitY

* Student must:

•Be identified as a child with a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or by a school district, or is eligible to receive special education services from a school district under state law and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or

• Have attended a public school or school district that received a “D” on the state accountability report card, or

• Have a parent who is an active duty member of the U.S. military, or

• Be adopted from the state foster care system or is placed with a family and has a case plan of adoption

* Attended public school as a full-time student for 100 days prior to the fiscal year and who transferred to a qualified private school, or participated in the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program in the previous year, or received a scholarship under Lexie’s Law

parent reqUireMentS

* Must sign an agreement to:

•Provide an education in the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science

•Not enroll student in a school district or charter school

•Release the school district from all obligations to educate the student

•Not accept a scholarship under any of Arizona’s tax credit scholarship programs

•Use the money deposited in the empowerment account for purposes specified in the law

School reqUireMentS

* Cannot discriminate

* Cannot share, refund, or rebate any empowerment account monies with the parent or student

ScholarShip cap

* 90 percent of the state funding for each qualified student (takes into account grade and disability)

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding

* No specific program appropriation

Year enacted

* 2011

arizona: arizona eMPowerMenT sChoLarshiP aCCounTs ProGraM


exPanded

ProGraM

Accounts Awarded 302

Schools Participating 51

2012 expenditures $5,200,000

daTa uPdaTe

2011–12

2012–13

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

190

302



prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Universal

StUdent eligibilitY

* Live in the Douglas County School District

* Attended a Douglas County School District school for at least one year

* Satisfy all admission requirements of the selected private school

School reqUireMentS

* Be accredited by a recognized state or national accrediting organization

* Demonstrate student achievement and growth results for participating students at least as strong as what district neighborhood and charter schools produce

* Disclose financial history, including the past three years of audited financial statements and documentation showing adequate insurance policies

* Private schools that have been in operation for fewer than three years must demonstrate the ability to indemnify the District for any loss if the school closes

* Comply with building codes and have a safe school plan

* Conduct criminal background checks on school employees

* May not discriminate in employment or enrollment decisions

* Must release participating students so the District can administer statewide or District assessments

* Provide information on employment and enrollment policies, a description of student performance assessments, student conduct and discipline policies, description of governance and operations

ScholarShip cap



•75 percent of state portion of per-pupil revenue

enrollMent cap

*500

prograM fUnding

*No specific program appropriation

Year enacted

*2011

colorado: douGLas CounTy ChoiCe sChoLarshiP ProGraM

ProGraM uPdaTe

In response to litigation filed by opponents of educational choice, a Colorado court has issued an injunction barring the program from moving forward. Appeals to that decision have been filed.


Page 39


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Have Individualized Education Program (IEP) or have an accommodation plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

* Attended public school in any of the five years prior to the 2010–11 fiscal year

* Children of U.S. military personnel transferring are exempt from prior year public school attendance requirement

* Children who received specialized instructional services under the Voluntary Pre–K Education Program (VPK) the previous school year are exempt from prior year public school attendance requirement

School reqUireMentS

* Be approved by the state

* Submit to the state annual sworn compliance reports regarding all local and state health and safety codes

* Comply with federal nondiscrimination requirements of 42 U.S.C. s 2000d

* Teachers and other school personnel working with scholarship recipients must undergo federal background checks

* Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, three years of teaching experience, or special expertise

* Schools in operation less than three years must obtain a surety bond or letter of credit to cover value of the scholarship payments for one quarter

* Report student’s progress to parents annually

ScholarShip cap


•Amount of public school funding students would have received

•Tuition and fees of private school

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 1999

florida: John M. MCKay sChoLarshiP For sTudenTs wiTh disabiLiTies ProGraM

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

1999–00

2000–01

2001–02

2002–03

2003–04

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

2

970

5,013

9,130

13,739

15,910

17,300

18,273

19,852

20,530

20,926

22,198

24,194

25,366


Scholarships Awarded 25,366

Schools Participating 1,133

2012 expenditures $157,602,339*

daTa uPdaTe

*Alliance Estimate



prograM tYpe


•Means tested

StUdent eligibilitY

* Qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program ($42,643 for a family of four in 2012)

* Attended public school the previous year or entering kindergarten or first grade

* If a renewing student’s family income increases by 24 percent higher than the original entry threshold of the free or reduced-price lunch program, students are eligible for a partial scholarship

ScholarShip fUnding organization (Sfo) reqUireMentS


* SFOs with fewer than three years’ worth of audits must use 100 percent of donations for scholarships


* Submit to the state:

•Financial and compliance audit performed by certified public accountant

•Quarterly reports on number of scholarship recipients and participating schools

School reqUireMentS


* Submit to the state annual sworn compliance reports regarding all local and state health and safety codes


* Teachers and other school personnel working with scholarship recipients must undergo federal background checks

* Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, three years of teaching experience, or special expertise

* Schools in operation less than three years must obtain a surety bond or letter of credit to cover value of the scholarship payments for one quarter

* Any school receiving more than $250,000 in scholarship money must provide financial reporting to the state

* Scholarship students must take a nationally recognized norm-referenced test or the state public school assessment. All schools with at least 30 students in grades 3–10 must post standardized test score gains

ScholarShip cap

* $4,335 for private school scholarship

* $500 scholarship covering transportation to another public school

* The scholarship cap for 2012–13 is 68 percent of the per-pupil school funding formula. The cap increases 4 percent in any year in which the cap is raised until the cap reaches 80 percent

tax credit ValUe



* 100 percent of state tax liability

Statewide cap

* $229 million (2012–13)

* Cap is allowed to increase by 25 percent in any year after 90 percent of the cap is reached

Year enacted

* 2001

florida: FLorida Tax CrediT sChoLarshiP exPanded

ProGraM

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000

2002–03

2003–04

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

15,585

11,550

10,549

15,123

17,819

21,493

24,871

28,927

34,550

50,821

40,248



Schools Participating 1,306

SFos operating 1


daTa uPdaTe


Page 41


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Attended public school the previous year

* Have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the entire school year prior to receiving a scholarship

School reqUireMentS

* Notify state regarding intention to participate

* Demonstrate financial viability


* Comply with state health and safety requirements

* Be accredited or in the process of becoming accredited

* Teachers must have bachelor’s degree or three years’ experience in education or health

* Provide parents with teachers’ credentials

* Report to parents and state regarding students’ academic progress

ScholarShip cap


•Amount of public school funding student would have received


enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2007

georgia: GeorGia sPeCiaL needs sChoLarshiP ProGraM




daTa uPdaTe

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500

899

1,596

2,068

2,529

3,227

2,933


*Alliance Estimate




Schools Participating Not Available

SSos operating 39


daTa uPdaTeprograM tYpe

* Scholarship tax credit – Corporate and individual

StUdent eligibilitY

* Attended public school the previous year or entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or first grade

StUdent ScholarShip organization (SSo) reqUireMentS



* Have an independent board of directors

* Submit annually to the state:

•Data on accepted contributions and tax credits approved

•Independent review of financial statements by certified public accountant

•Total number of students and total dollar value of scholarships awarded each year

School reqUireMentS

* Be accredited or in the process of becoming accredited

* Comply with the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964

* Comply with all state private school regulations, including health and safety codes

ScholarShip cap

* 100 percent of state and local per-pupil funding

tax credit ValUe



* $1,000 single

* $2,500 married couple

* 75 percent of corporation’s state income tax liability

Statewide cap

* $51.5 million

* Increases by the annual growth of the Consumer Price Index

Year enacted

* 2008

georgia: GeorGia sChoLarshiP Tax CrediT ProGraM

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

3,000

6,125

11,292



Page 43


prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY

* Family income cannot exceed 200 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program ($85,286 for a family of four in 2012)

* Must have been enrolled in public school the prior year or be entering kindergarten or received a scholarship in the previous school year

ScholarShip granting organization (Sgo) reqUireMentS


* Certified by the state


* Conduct criminal background checks on all SGO employees and board members

* Have an outside financial audit conducted and provide an annual report to the state

School reqUireMentS

* Be accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the state board

* Administer a nationally recognized and norm-referenced assessment to the students

ScholarShip cap

* Tuition and fees

tax credit ValUe


* Donors cannot carry over credits from year to year


* None

Statewide cap

* $5 million

Year enacted

* 2009

indiana: CorPoraTe and individuaL sChoLarshiP Tax CrediT ProGraM

2010–11

2011–12

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000

590

2,890




SGos operating 4

2011 Donations $2,542,649

daTa uPdaTe







* Voucher

•Means tested

StUdent eligibilitY

* Family income cannot exceed 100 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program ($42,643 for a family of four in 2012) for a full scholarship

* Family income cannot exceed 150 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program ($63,964 for a family of four) for a partial scholarship

* Attended public school for two semesters immediately prior to enrolling in the Choice Scholarship Program or received a scholarship under the Corporate and Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Program

School reqUireMentS

* Be accredited by either the state board or a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the state board

* Comply with health and safety codes

* Must not discriminate on basis of race, color, or national origin

* Conduct criminal background checks on employees

* Submit to the state financial reporting on the amount of government funding received, funding disbursed, and school’s total disbursements

* Administer the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) program and report to the state data for A–F ratings including ISTEP scores and graduation rates

•To remain eligible to accept new scholarship students, a school must not be rated as D or F for two or more consecutive years

* Must grant the state full access to its premises for observing classroom instruction and reviewing any instructional materials and curriculum

* Provide civic and character education and display related historical documents

ScholarShip cap



•90 percent of the state tuition support amount for students with a family income not exceeding 100 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program or 50 percent of the state tuition support amount for students with a family income not exceeding 150 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program

•$4,500 for students in grades 1–8

enrollMent cap

* 15,000 (2012–13)

* Cap removed beginning in the 2013–14 school year

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2011

indiana: ChoiCe sChoLarshiP ProGraM


2011–12

2012–13

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000

3,919

9,324

*Alliance Estimate


Page 45




STos operating 12

2012 Donations $13,461,537



StUdent eligibilitY

* Family income cannot exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($69,150 for a family of four in 2012)

* Private school students also eligible




* Annual review of financial statements by public accounting firm

* Submit data to the state on accepted contributions, grants awarded, and participating schools

School reqUireMentS

* Be accredited

* Comply with federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Iowa Chapter 216

* Comply with state health and safety codes

ScholarShip cap

* Tuition only

tax credit ValUe



* None

Statewide cap

* $8.75 million

•25 percent for corporations

•75 percent for individuals and married couples

Year enacted

* 2006

iowa: individuaL and CorPoraTe sChooL TuiTion orGanizaTion Tax CrediT

2006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–13

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

1167,527

8,7379,624

10,208

10,44610,600







daTa uPdaTe

prograM tYpe

* Voucher

• Means tested and failing schools

StUdent eligibilitY


* Attended a public school rated C, D, or F or entering kindergarten

School reqUireMentS

* Private schools must be approved by the state to participate

* Comply with health and safety codes

* Not discriminate on basis of race, color, or national origin

* Use an open admissions process in enrolling scholarship recipients

* Administer all Louisiana state examinations required under the school and district accountability system

* Receive a Scholarship Cohort Index of at least 50 to remain eligible to accept new students

* No more than 20 percent of students receiving scholarships for private schools in operation fewer than two years

* Submit to the state an annual independent financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant

* Conduct criminal background checks on all school employees

* Maintain a curriculum of quality at least equal to that prescribed for public schools

ScholarShip cap


•State and local per-pupil funding (state average $8,500 for 2012–13)

•Tuition, fees, and costs associated with testing

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding

* $9.7 million

Year enacted

* 2008

loUiSiana: sTudenT sChoLarshiPs For eduCaTionaL exCeLLenCe ProGraM

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000

640

1,100

1,678

4,963

1,832


exPanded

ProGraM


Page 47


Scholarships Awarded 197


2012 expenditures $432,683


* Voucher

• Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

* Be in need of services for autism, mental disability, emotional disturbance, developmental delay, other health-impairment specific learning disability, or traumatic brain injury

* Eligible to attend a public school

* Reside in one of the six large parishes: Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, Orleans, Caddo, St. Tammany, or Lafayette


School reqUireMentS

* Be approved by the state to participate

* Comply with state nondiscrimination and health and safety requirements

* Have existed and provided educational services to students with special needs for two years prior to participating in the program

* Teachers must be certified to teach special education

ScholarShip cap


•50 percent of state per-pupil funding


prograM fUnding

* $650,000

enrollMent cap

* None

Year enacted

* 2010

loUiSiana: sChooL ChoiCe PiLoT ProGraM For CerTain sTudenTs wiTh exCePTionaLiTies

2011–12

2012–13

0 50 100 150 200

186

197




newProGraM

prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY


* Attended public school the previous year or entering kindergarten

* Priority given to students who are from public schools that received a letter grade F or D, received a scholarship in the previous year, or are siblings of participating students

School tUition organization (Sto) reqUireMentS


* Conduct background checks on its employees and board members

* Report annually to the state:

•Total number and dollar amount of contributions received

•Total number and dollar amount of scholarships awarded

•Total amount expended on administrative costs

•Tuition and fee amounts published by participating schools

•Information on contributions made by each contributor

•Financial information report by a certified public accountant

School reqUireMentS

* Be approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

* Not discriminate on basis of race, color, or national origin

* Conduct background checks on its employees

* Annually administer and report the results of the state test associated with the school and district accountability system to measure learning gains in math and language arts to all participating students in grades that require testing under the state’s accountability testing requirements for public schools

* Any school receiving more than $50,000 in scholarship money must:

•File financial information demonstrating its financial viability

•File a surety bond if in operation for five years or less

ScholarShip cap


•Tuition and fees

•Grades K–8th: 80 percent of average state per-pupil funding (approximately $4,000)

•Grades 9–12: 90 percent of average state per-pupil funding (approximately $4,500)

tax rebate ValUe


donor rebate cap

* None

Statewide cap

* None

Year enacted

* 2012

loUiSiana: TuiTion donaTion rebaTe ProGraM

ProGraM uPdaTe

Because this program was enacted in 2012, it has not yet received donations or granted scholarships at this time.


Page 49


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Diagnosed with dyslexia

* Entering grades 1–6

* Previously attended a public or private school that emphasizes instruction in dyslexia intervention or whose parent has obtained acceptance for admission of the student to an eligible private school

School reqUireMentS

* Be a state accredited special purpose school

* Provide comprehensive dyslexia therapy instruction delivered by state Department of Education-licensed dyslexia therapists to children diagnosed with dyslexia as a primary learning disability

* Provide the state all documentation required for a student’s participation

* Provide parents with a written explanation of the student’s progress

* Conduct background checks on teachers and other school personnel

* Submit to annual audits of financial records by the state auditor

ScholarShip cap

* 100 percent of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base student cost (state portion of per-pupil funding)

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2012

MiSSiSSippi: dysLexia TheraPy sChoLarshiPnew

ProGraM

2012–13

0 3 6 9 12 15

13




2012 expenditures $65,234

daTa uPdaTe



newProGraM

prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY

* Attended public school the previous year or received a scholarship the previous year

* Private school students are also eligible if their family income does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($69,150 for a family of four in 2012)

ScholarShip organization (So) reqUireMentS

* Use at least 90 percent of contributions for scholarship

* Comply with state and federal antidiscrimination and privacy laws

* Be registered with the director of charitable trusts


* In awarding scholarships to students who attended public school or who received a scholarship the previous year, award at least 40 percent of scholarships to students who qualified for free and reduced-price lunch in the final year they were in public school

* Must not restrict scholarships for use at a single school and not reserve scholarships for specific students


•Total number and dollar amount of scholarships awarded and the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch for each of the student eligibility categories

•Total dollar amount of donations spent on administrative expenses

•Total carryover dollar amount

•Total dollar amount of contributions used and not used for scholarships

•Number of scholarships distributed, per school, and the dollar range of those scholarships

•Analysis, by ZIP code, of the place of residence for each student receiving a scholarship

•Aggregated results of parental satisfaction survey, designed by the state

•Number of students who graduated and the number who dropped out of school

School reqUireMentS

* Comply with state home education law

ScholarShip cap

* $2,500 (average of all of SOs scholarships)

* At least $4,375 for students receiving special education programs or services

* The scholarship cap will increase by the annual growth of the Consumer Price Index, beginning in the second year of the program

tax credit ValUe



* No more than 10 percent of the aggregate amount of tax credits permitted in a given year

Statewide cap

* First year: $3.4 million

* Second year: $5.1 million

* After second year, cap is allowed to increase by 25 percent in any year after 80 percent of the cap is reached

Year enacted

* 2012

new haMpShire: eduCaTion Tax CrediT ProGraM

ProGraM uPdaTe



Page 51


prograM tYpe

* Individual tuition tax credit

•Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Identified as having a disability


* Receives special education or related services on a daily basis

* Enrolled in a private school for one or two semesters during the taxable year

* Is a child for whom the parent is entitled to deduct a personal exemption

* Enrolled in a public school or receiving special education or related services through the public schools as a preschool child with a disability for the preceding two semesters

* Must be reevaluated every three years by the public school to verify that the child continues to be a child with a disability

parent reqUireMentS

* Provide the state with requested information about the student and the student’s education, including the tuition, special education, and related services expenses

tax credit aMoUnt

* Cost of tuition and special education services up to $6,000 per year, depending on the family tax liability

Year enacted

* 2011

north carolina: Tax CrediTs For ChiLdren wiTh disabiLiTies

ProGraM uPdaTe

Individual Tuition Tax Credits: an individual state income tax credit of significant size for educational expenses, including private school tuition. While individual tuition tax credits currently exist in a small number of states, the Alliance only officially counts North Carolina’s Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities because it is the only credit that is sufficiently large enough to affect a family’s ability to place their child in private school.



prograM tYpe

* Voucher

• Means preferenced

StUdent eligibilitY

* Must live in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District

* Priority given to students living below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($46,100 for a family of four in 2012)

* Scholarship may continue throughout high school


School reqUireMentS

* Be registered to participate and chartered by the state

* Meet state standards for chartered nonpublic schools

* Comply with state laws regarding nondiscrimination and health and safety codes

* Administer the state tests, including the Ohio Graduation Test

ScholarShip cap


•Tuition

•$4,250 – grades K–8

• $5,000 – grades 9–12

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding

* $23.4 million

Year enacted

* 1995

ohio: CLeveLand sChoLarshiP and TuTorinG ProGraM

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000

1996–97

1997–98

1998–99

1999–00

2000–01

2001–02

2002–03

2003–04

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

1,994

2,914

3,797

3,406

4,523

5,281

5,887

5,710

5,813

6,116

6,273

5,849

5,276

5,442

6,513

5,603

3,674


exPanded

ProGraM




daTa uPdaTe


Page 53


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

• Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Be identified as autistic through assigned school district



School reqUireMentS

* Register with the state

* Comply with state nondiscrimination codes

* Demonstrate fiscal soundness

* Have properly credentialed staff

* Teachers and other staff working with children must undergo background checks

* In operation at least one full year

* Have adequate liability, property, and casualty insurance certified by a certified public accountant

* Obtain surety bond or letter of credit to cover value of scholarships

* Provide regular student progress reports to parents and resident public school

ScholarShip cap


• Tuition

•$20,000

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2003

ohio: auTisM sChoLarshiP ProGraM

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13 2,241

2,236

2,124

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

300

475

734

1,005

1,500

1,672





daTa uPdaTe



prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Failing schools

StUdent eligibilitY

* Current public school students assigned to a school that has been in Academic Watch or Academic Emergency for two years of a three-year period or assigned to a school ranked in the bottom 10 percent of schools on the basis of its Performance Index score

* Students entering kindergarten in one of these schools also qualify

* Priority given to returning and low-income applicants

School reqUireMentS

* Be chartered by the state

* Meet state standards for chartered nonpublic schools

* Comply with state laws regarding nondiscrimination and health and safety codes

* Teachers and staff working with children must undergo background checks

* Administer state tests; test results are publicized on the Ohio Department of Education website

ScholarShip cap


•Tuition

•$4,250 – grades K–8

•$5,000 – grades 9–12

• Scholarship can cover full tuition for students living under 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($46,100 for a family of four in 2012)

enrollMent cap

* 60,000

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2005

ohio: eduCaTionaL ChoiCe sChoLarshiP ProGraM

2006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–13

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000

2,7137,144

10,43211,242

13,733

17,05716,136





daTa uPdaTe


Page 55


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Special Needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Identified as a child with a disability by the school district


* Not receiving a scholarship under the Educational Choice Scholarship Program, the Autism Scholarship Program, or the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program for the same school year in which they are seeking the special needs scholarship

* In compliance with the state compulsory attendance law


School reqUireMentS

* Registered by the state

* Comply with state nondiscrimination laws

* Meet health and safety standards

* Submit in writing to the parents of the qualified special education child a profile of the provider’s special education program, including: methods of instruction that will be utilized to provide services to the child and the qualifications of teachers, instructors, and other persons who will provide services to the child

* Administer and report the results of the state’s tests, including the Ohio Graduation Test, unless the student is excused from taking that assessment under federal law or the student’s IEP

* Have properly credentialed staff

* Educational program approved by the state

* Provide record of the implementation of the IEP of each qualified special education student enrolled in the school, including evaluation of the child’s progress to the school district

* Submit to the state information on the type and cost of special education services given to scholarship recipients

ScholarShip cap


•Tuition and fees of the private school

•Student’s per-pupil special education funding amount based on disability, with a cap of $20,000

enrollMent cap

* No more than 5 percent of Ohio students identified as children with disabilities during the previous fiscal year (approximately 12,000 scholarships)

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2011

ohio: Jon PeTerson sPeCiaL needs sChoLarshiP ProGraM

2012–13

0 300 600 900 1,200 1,500

1,371


daTa uPdaTe




*Alliance Estimate






daTa uPdaTe

prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Special Needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in effect at the time the scholarship is requested

* Attended public school the previous school year

* Children of U.S. military personnel transferring are exempt from prior year public school attendance requirement

* Have regular and direct contact with private school teachers at the physical location of the private school

School reqUireMentS

* Be accredited by the State Board of Education or approved accrediting association

* Comply with state nondiscrimination and health and safety requirements

* Must have been in operation for one school year prior to participation in the program

* Provide a statement by a certified public accountant confirming that the private school is insured and the owners have sufficient capital or credit to operate or provide record of a surety bond or credit for the amount equal to the scholarship funds for any quarter

* Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree or at least three years of teaching experience in public or private schools, or have special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in the subjects taught

ScholarShip cap


•100 percent of the state and local public school funding for each child (takes into account grade and disability)

•Tuition and fees of the private school

* The local school district may keep up to 5 percent of the scholarship amount for administrative services

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding


Year enacted

* 2010

oklahoMa: Lindsey niCoLe henry sChoLarshiP For sTudenTs wiTh disabiLiTies ProGraM

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

0 50 100 150 200

10

149

197



Page 57


prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY

* Family income cannot exceed 300 percent of the free or reduced-price lunch program ($127,929 for a family of four in 2012)

* Attended or was eligible to attend a public school identified for school improvement pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 during the preceding school year

* Participating students and their siblings remain eligible until graduation

* For the special needs portion of the scholarship, eligible students must have attended a public school and have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)



* Register as a scholarship-granting organization with the state

* Spend portion of expenditures on scholarships for students who qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program ($42,643 for family of four in 2012) in an amount equal or greater to the percentage of eligible low-income students in the state

* Ensure scholarships are portable during the school year and can be used at any qualified school that accepts the eligible student

* Conduct background checks on employees and board members

* Maintain full and accurate records on contributions and expenditures and other documentation required by the state

School reqUireMentS

* Accredited by the state or a state-approved accrediting association

* Comply with health and safety laws and codes

* Has stated policy against discrimination

* Ensures academic accountability through regular progress reports to parents

ScholarShip cap

* Whichever is greater:

•$5,000

•80 percent of average per-pupil expenditure in the student’s school district

•Up to $25,000 to cover the tuition, fees, and transportation costs at selected private school for special needs students

tax credit ValUe

* 50 percent


* $1,000 individuals

* $2,000 married couples

* $100,000 corporations

Statewide cap

* 3.5 million

•$1.75 million individuals and married couples

•$1.75 million corporations

Year enacted

* 2011

oklahoMa: equaL oPPorTuniTy eduCaTion sChoLarshiPs

2012–13

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

35


Scholarships Awarded 35*


STos operating 1*

2012 Donations $26,000*

daTa uPdaTe

*Alliance Estimate



2001–02

2002–03

2003–04

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

38,646

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000

17,350

42,149

40,876

20,208

25,875

26,701

29,638

36,540

44,334

44,893


prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY

* Family income cannot exceed $60,000 ($75,000 after June 30, 2013), with an additional $12,000 allowed for each additional dependent.

•Income adjusted annually to reflect growth of the Consumer Price Index


* For special needs students, family income cannot exceed $60,000 ($75,000 after June 30, 2013), with an additional $12,000 per dependent multiplied by 1.5 for students not enrolled in special education schools (Support Level 1) or 2.9993 for students enrolled in special education schools (Support Level 2)




* Submit annual report detailing donations received and scholarships awarded and proof of a financial review by a certified public accountant

School reqUireMentS


* Meet state health and safety codes

* Teachers and other employees working with children must undergo background checks

ScholarShip cap

* Tuition and fees

tax credit ValUe

* 75 percent of one-year donation

* 90 percent of two-year donation


* $400,000 for FY 2012–13

* $750,000 beginning in FY 2013–14

Statewide cap

* $60 million (out of $100 million total)

Year enacted

* 2001

pennSYlVania: eduCaTionaL iMProveMenT Tax CrediT

exPanded

ProGraM



STos operating 257

2011 Donations $49,673,584

daTa uPdaTe


Page 59


prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY

* Children residing within the attendance boundary of a low-achieving school (bottom 15 percent based on combined reading and math scores on the state assessment)

* Preference given to:

•Students who received a scholarship during the previous year

• Students from households with a family income that does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($42,643 for a family of four in 2012)

* Family income cannot exceed $60,000 ($75,000 after June 30, 2013), with an additional $12,000 allowed for each additional dependent

•Income adjusted annually to reflect growth of the Consumer Price Index


* For special needs students, family income cannot exceed $60,000 ($75,000 after June 30, 2013), with an additional $12,000 per dependent multiplied by 1.5 for students not enrolled in special education schools (Support Level 1) or 2.9993 for students enrolled in special education schools (Support Level 2)




* Submit annual report detailing donations received and scholarships awarded to the state, including number of scholarships awarded and total and average amounts of scholarships awarded to students from households with a family income that does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty guideline

* Submit a copy of a financial audit conducted by a certified accounting firm

School reqUireMentS



* Teachers and other employees working with children must undergo background checks

ScholarShip cap

Whichever is less:

* $8,500 for non-special education students

* $15,000 for special education students

* Tuition and fees

tax credit ValUe




* $400,000 for FY 2012–13

* $750,000 beginning in FY 2013–14

Statewide cap

* $50 million

Year enacted

* 2012

pennSYlVania: eduCaTionaL oPPorTuniTy sChoLarshiP Tax CrediT new

ProGraM

ProGraM uPdaTe




prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY


* Other criteria determined by Scholarship Granting Organization




* Provide annual report to the state detailing number and value of scholarships awarded, ZIP codes of recipients, and criteria used to award scholarships

School reqUireMentS

* Comply with federal and state nondiscrimination laws


* Require teachers to have bachelor’s degrees

* Conduct teacher background checks

ScholarShip cap

* None

tax credit ValUe




* $100,000

Statewide cap

* $1 million

Year enacted

* 2006

rhode iSland: rhode isLand CorPoraTe sChoLarshiP Tax CrediT

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

278

328

511

460

382

341




SGos operating 5


daTa uPdaTe


Page 61


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Special needs

StUdent eligibilitY

* Identified as disabled and have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

* Currently attending an eligible private school and be determined in need of specialized services

School reqUireMentS


* Comply with federal nondiscrimination requirements of 42 U.S.C.s. 2000d

* Comply with state health and safety codes

* Submit to the state an audit and financial report completed by a certified public accountant

* Possess adequate working capital to maintain operations for the first year

* Disclose to parents the special education services to be provided and the cost of those services

* Administer annual assessment of student’s academic progress and report results to the student’s parents

* Teachers of recipients must have bachelor’s degrees, three years of teaching experience, or special skills

* Provide parents with teacher’s credentials

ScholarShip cap

* Based on state’s public school funding formula

•$7,040 – three or more hours of services

•$4,224 – less than three hours of services

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding

* 3.75 million

Year enacted

* 2005

Utah: Carson sMiTh sPeCiaL needs sChoLarshiP

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

107

340

548

582

602

747

672

715





daTa uPdaTe



prograM tYpe


StUdent eligibilitY


* Attended public school the previous year or entering kindergarten or first grade

* An eligible student with a disability must satisfy the above requirement; they must also have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and their family income cannot exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($92,200 for a family of four in 2012)

ScholarShip foUndation (Sf) reqUireMentS




* Comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

* Conduct an annual audit, review, or compilation on tax-credit-derived funds


•Total number and dollar amount of contributions received

•Dates when such contributions were received

•Total number and dollar amount of scholarships awarded

School reqUireMentS

* Comply with state and local health and safety laws

* Hold a valid occupancy permit

* Comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

* Comply with nonpublic school accreditation requirements as set forth in Section 22.1-19, Code of Virginia, and administered by the Virginia Council for Private Education or nonpublic schools that maintain an assessment system that annually measures scholarship students’ progress in reading and math using a national norm-referenced achievement test

* Annually provide the state with scholarship students’ national norm-referenced achievement test results

* Annually provide the state with scholarship students’ graduation rates

ScholarShip cap


• Tuition and instructional fees and materials

•100 percent of state per-pupil funding

tax credit ValUe



* Corporate

•100 percent of state tax liability, no less than $500

* Individual and couple

•100 percent of state tax liability, no less than $500 and no more than $50,000

Statewide cap

* $25 million

Year enacted

* 2012

Virginia: eduCaTion iMProveMenT sChoLarshiPs Tax CrediTs new

ProGraM

ProGraM uPdaTe



Page 63


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

•Means tested

StUdent eligibilitY

* Qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program ($42,643 for a family of four in 2012) or participated in the program in the preceding year and has a family income of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($69,150 for a family of four in 2012)

* Priority given to students who attend schools deemed in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind Act; were awarded a scholarship in the preceding year; or have a sibling participating in the program

* Students from low-income families in other public schools are also eligible

* Students currently attending private school are also eligible

* Must take national norm-referenced standardized test

School reqUireMentS

* Must not discriminate

* Comply with district health and safety codes

* Maintain a valid certificate of occupancy

* Teachers in core subjects must have a bachelor’s degree

* Must be accredited and comply with other standards prescribed under the District of Columbia compulsory school attendance laws

* Must allow site visits by the administering program entity

* Administer a nationally norm-referenced standardized test; a comparative evaluation will be conducted utilizing D.C. Public Schools, charter schools, and OSP school testing data

* Submit proof of financial sustainability for schools in operation for five years or less

* Has financial systems in place to ensure that funds are used appropriately

ScholarShip cap

* $8,136 – grades K–8

* $12,205 – grades 9–12

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding

* $20 million authorized

Year enacted

* 2004




daTa uPdaTe

waShington, d.c.: d.C. oPPorTuniTy sChoLarshiP ProGraM

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13 1,584

1,615

1,022

1,712

1,799

1,933

1,716

1,319

1,041


*Alliance Estimate



prograM tYpe

* Voucher

• Means tested

StUdent eligibilitY

* Live in the Milwaukee Public School District

* Family income below 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($69,150 for a family of four in 2012), with an additional $7,000 allowed for households with married parents


School reqUireMentS

* Meet state nondiscrimination policies


* Allow students to opt out of religious programs

* Administer state testing to scholarship recipients in grades 4, 8, and 10 and provide scores to the School Choice Demonstration Project

* Receive accreditation within three years of participating in Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (current participating schools adding grades or creating a new school are exempt)

* Submit an annual financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant to the state

*Provide evidence of sound fiscal practices and financial viability to the state

* School administrators must undergo financial training and have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

* Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and teacher aides must have received a high school diploma or been granted a GED or HSED

* Must provide 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1–6 and 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7–12

* Must provide the state with information about the academic program at the participating school and student test score data

ScholarShip cap

* $6,442

enrollMent cap

* None

prograM fUnding

* 154.8 million

Year enacted

* 1990

wiSconSin: MiLwauKee ParenTaL ChoiCe ProGraM

1990–911991–921992–931993–941994–951995–961996–971997–981998–991999–002000–012001–022002–032003–042004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–13

337504591

1,320

718786

1,606

7,5969,104

10,39111,209

12,78814,42715,274

17,12618,55019,414

20,32820,996

23,19824,027

5,7401,501

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000





daTa uPdaTe


Page 65


prograM tYpe

* Voucher

• Means tested

StUdent eligibilitY

* Live in Racine Unified School District

* Family income below 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($69,150 for family of four in 2012), with an additional $7,000 allowed for households with married parents

* Enrolled in public school in the Racine Unified School District the previous school year; entering school for the first time; or applying to attend kindergarten, first grade, or ninth grade at a participating private school

* Priority given to students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program ($41,348 for family of four in 2011) in the program’s first year

School reqUireMentS

* Meet state nondiscrimination policies

* Meet health and safety codes

* Allow students to opt out of religious programs

* Administer state testing to scholarship recipients in grades 4, 8, and 10

* Receive accreditation within three years of participating in the Racine Parental Choice Program

* Submit an annual financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant to the state

* Provide evidence of sound fiscal practices and financial viability to the state

* School administrators must undergo financial training and have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

* Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, and teacher aides must have received a high school diploma or been granted a GED or HSED

* Provide 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1–6 and 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7–12

* Must provide the state with information about the academic program at the participating schools and student test score data

ScholarShip cap

* $6,442

enrollMent cap

* 500 scholarships (2012–13)

* Cap removed beginning in the 2013–14 school year

prograM fUnding

* $3,221,000 (2012–13)

Year enacted

* 2011

wiSconSin: raCine ParenTaL ChoiCe ProGraM

2011–12

2012–13

0 100 200 300 400 500

228

500


daTa uPdaTedaTa uPdaTe






accountability checkThe Alliance for School Choice supports strong, commonsense accountability provisions for private school choice

programs. Not only are transparency and accountability smart public policy, but they provide the educational choice

movement and advocates with readily available data and information to improve programs and to describe successes.

acadeMic accoUntabilitY – results in transparency to parents, policymakers, taxpayers, and donors. Parents must have the information to choose high-quality schools that meet the needs of their children, while policymakers, taxpayers, and donors must measure the impact of private school choice programs on academic achievement and attainment.

adMiniStratiVe accoUntabilitY – requires schools to meet health and safety codes, comply with nondiscrimination requirements, and conduct background checks on employees. In scholarship tax credit programs, Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) disclose donations and scholarship details, as well as conduct background checks of SGO operators.

financial accoUntabilitY – requires schools to file annual financial reports and demonstrate financial viability. In scholarship tax credit programs, financial accountability requires SGOs to demonstrate sound financial standing.

These charts detail the accountability provisions required in private school choice programs as of the 2012–13 school year:

Accountability Standards in

VoUcher prograMS

Financial academicadministrative

hea

lth a

nd s

afet

y

back

grou

nd C

heck

s

non

disc

rimin

atio

n

annu

al F

inan

cial

rep

ortin

g

Proo

f of F

inan

cial

via

bilit

yPu

blic

rep

ortin

g of

res

ults

stan

dard

ized

ass

essm

ents

inde

pend

ent e

valu

atio

n

colorado Douglas county choice Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

Florida John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program Ç Ç Ç Ç

Georgia Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç

indiana choice Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

louisiana Student Scholarships for educational excellence Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

louisiana School choice Pilot Program for certain Students with exceptionalities Ç Ç

Mississippi Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Ç Ç Ç Ç

ohio cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program Ç Ç Ç Ç

ohio Autism Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

ohio educational choice Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

ohio Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

oklahoma lindsey Nicole henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program Ç Ç Ç

Utah carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

washington, D.c. D.c. opportunity Scholarship Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

wisconsin Milwaukee Parental choice Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

wisconsin Racine Parental choice Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

* Not necessarily a standardized test; law requires formal testing procedure

*


Page 67


Financial academicadministrative

hea

lth a

nd s

afet

y

back

grou

nd C

heck

s

non

disc

rimin

atio

n

Proo

f of F

inan

cial

via

bilit

y

annu

al a

udits

(ran

dom

sam

ple)

Publ

ic r

epor

ting

of r

esul

ts

stan

dard

ized

ass

essm

ents

inde

pend

ent e

valu

atio

n

Arizona Arizona empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program Ç Ç

Arizona individual School Tuition organization Tax credit Ç Ç Ç Ç

Arizona corporate School Tuition organization Tax credit Ç Ç Ç Ç

Arizona lexie's law Ç Ç Ç Ç

Florida Florida Tax credit Scholarship Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

Georgia Georgia Scholarship Tax credit Program Ç Ç Ç Ç

indiana corporate and individual Scholarship Tax credit Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

iowa individual and corporate School Tuition organization Tax credit Ç Ç Ç Ç

louisiana Tuition Donation Rebate Program Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

New hampshire New hampshire education Tax credit Ç

oklahoma equal opportunity education Scholarships Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

Pennsylvania educational improvement Tax credit Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

Pennsylvania educational opportunity Scholarship Tax credit Ç Ç Ç

Rhode island Rhode island corporate Scholarship Tax credit Ç Ç Ç Ç

Virginia education improvement Scholarships Tax credits Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç Ç

back

grou

nd C

heck

san

nual

Fin

anci

al r

epor

ting

det

ails

rep

ortin

g

hea

lth a

nd s

afet

yn

ondi

scrim

inat

ion

stan

dard

ized

ass

essm

ents

back

grou

nd C

heck

s

Publ

ic r

epor

ting

of r

esul

ts

inde

pend

ent e

valu

atio

n

sGo administrative and Financial

school administrative and Financial academic

don

atio

n an

d sc

hola

rshi

p


edUcation SaVingS accoUnt prograMS


ScholarShip tax credit prograMS

Proo

f of F

inan

cial

via

bilit

y



AGUDATh iSRAelagudathisrael.org

AlliANce FoR School choiceallianceforschoolchoice.org

AMeRicAN ceNTeR FoR School choiceamcsc.org

AMeRicAN FeDeRATioN FoR chilDReNfederationforchildren.org

BlAcK AlliANce FoR eDUcATioNAl oPTioNS (BAeo)baeo.org

BRooKiNGS iNSTiTUTioNbrookings.edu

coUNcil FoR AMeRicAN PRiVATe eDUcATioN (cAPe)capenet.org

ceNTeR FoR eDUcATioN ReFoRMedreform.com

chilDReN’S ScholARShiP FUNDscholarshipfund.org

DeMocRATS FoR eDUcATioN ReFoRM (DFeR)dfer.org

eDUcATioN BReAKThRoUGh NeTwoRKedbreakthrough.org

eDUcATioN NexTeducationnext.org

FoUNDATioN FoR excelleNce iN eDUcATioNexcelined.org

FRieDMAN FoUNDATioN FoR eDUcATioNAl choiceedchoice.org

GReATSchoolSgreatschools.org

heARTlAND iNSTiTUTeheartland.org

heRiTAGe FoUNDATioNheritage.org

hiSPANic coUNcil FoR ReFoRM AND eDUcATioNAl oPTioNS (hcReo)hcreo.com

iNSTiTUTe FoR JUSTiceij.org

iNTeRNATioNAl ASSociATioN FoR K-12 oNliNe leARNiNGinacol.org

K12k12.com

NATioNAl AlliANce FoR PUBlic chARTeR SchoolSpubliccharters.org

NATioNAl School choice weeKschoolchoiceweek.com

oRThoDox UNioNou.org

PAReNTS UNioNparentrevolution.org

ReDeFiNeDredefinedonline.org

School choice DeMoNSTRATioN PRoJecTuark.edu

STAND FoR chilDReNstand.org

STUDeNTSFiRSTstudentsfirst.org

ThoMAS B. FoRDhAM iNSTiTUTeedexcellence.net

UNiTeD STATeS coNFeReNce oF cATholic BiShoPSusccb.org

national organizations Supporting educational choiceNational organizations supporting educational choice are working across the country to expand educational options. Below are some of the organizations with whom the Alliance for School Choice has partnered.


Page 69


arizoNaArizona School Choice Trustasct. org

Arizona School Tuition Organization Associationastoa.com

Goldwater Institutegoldwaterinstitute.org

arkaNsasArkansans for Education Reform Foundationeducatearkansas.com

FloridaFlorida Federation for Childrenflorida4children.org

Step Up for Studentsstepupforstudents.org

GeorGia

Center for an Educated Georgiaeducatedgeorgia.org

Georgia Parent Advocacy Networkmygpan.org

Georgia Public Policy Foundationgppf.org

iNdiaNaSchool Choice Indianaindianaschoolchoice.com

iowaIowa Alliance for Choice in Educationiowaace.org

louisiaNaLouisiana Federation for Childrenlouisiana4children.org

Black Alliance for Educational Options—Louisianalouisiana.baeo.org

MissouriChildren’s Education Alliance of Missourichildrenseducationalliance-mo.org

New HaMpsHireNetwork for Educational Opportunitynetworkforeducation.org

New JerseyBetter Education for Kidsb4njkids.org

Excellent Education for Everyonenje3.org

We Can Do Better NJwecandobetternewjersey.org

New MexicoEducate New Mexicoeducatenm.org

NortH caroliNaParents for Educational Freedom in North Carolinapefnc.org

oHioSchool Choice Ohioscohio.org

peNNsylvaNiaREACH Foundationpaschoolchoice.org

Students First Pennsylvaniastudentsfirstpa.com

rHode islaNdRhode Island Scholarship Alliancerischolarshipalliance.org

soutH caroliNaSouth Carolinians for Responsible Governmentscrgov.org

teNNesseeBeacon Center of Tennesseebeacontn.org

Tennessee Federation for Childrentenessee4children.org

texasTexas Parents Uniontxparentsunion.org

Texas Public Policy Foundationtexaspolicy.com

utaHParents for Choice in Educationchoiceineducation.org

virGiNiaThomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policythomasjeffersoninst.org

wiscoNsiNHispanics for School Choicehispanicsforschoolchoice.com

School Choice Wisconsinschoolchoicewi.org

State organizations Supporting educational choiceState and local organizations supporting educational choice are working across the country to allow families access to high-quality educational options. Below are some of the organizations with whom the Alliance for School Choice has partnered.



aBout uSMission:

To improve our nation’s K-12 education by advancing systemic and sustainable public policy

that empowers parents, particularly those in low-income families, to choose the education they

determine is best for their children.

The Alliance for School Choice is a national educational choice leader, investing in states with the

greatest potential for enacting or expanding high-quality, accountable school choice programs. We

provide policy and program expertise, implementation strategies and guidance, promote and defend

school choice programs, and build local organizational infrastructure for long-term growth, impact,

and sustainability. In collaboration with national and state allies, we work to create opportunities for

systemic and sustainable educational reform that puts parents in charge, gives low-income families

expanded opportunities, and improves educational outcomes for participating children.

board of directorS

betsy deVos, Chairman Grand Rapids, Michigan

John f. kirtley, Vice Chairman Tampa, Florida

bill oberndorf, Chairman Emeritus San Francisco, California

boykin curry New York, New York

peter flanigan New York, New York

Joel greenberg Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

carrie penner Palo Alto, California


Page 71


Sources and creditsThe authors of the 2012–13 School Choice Yearbook utilized information from a variety of sources in

developing this annual publication. To maintain the flow of the document without interruption, the

sourcing for the book is provided in this section.

The authors remain grateful to the state officials and school choice organizations that participated in our

rigorous research. Their dedication and hard work have helped to make the Alliance for School Choice’s

Yearbook unparalleled in its accuracy.

photographS

All of the photographs that appear in the 2012–13 School Choice Yearbook were provided by educational choice organizations

across the country. We are enormously grateful to the following organizations for providing photographs for use in

this publication:

•Arizona School Choice Trust

•Black Alliance for Educational Options

•Center for an Educated Georgia

•Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options

•National School Choice Week

•School Choice Wisconsin

the reSearch realitY of edUcational choice

Comprehensive Longitudinal Evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program: Summary of Final Reports, School

Choice Demonstration Project, Department SCDP Milwaukee Evaluation Report #36, February 2012.

Education in Battleground States, The American Federation for Children and the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational

Options conducted by Beck Research, n=750, Likely Voters in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Nevada. April 17–22, 2012.

Effects of School Vouchers on College Enrollment: Experimental Evidence from New York City, The Brookings Institution

and Harvard University, August 2012.

Evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, Institute of Education Sciences, United States Department of

Education, June 2010.

Evaluation of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, Institute of Education Sciences, United States Department of

Education, 2009.

Evaluation of Florida’s Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program: Participation, Compliance, and Test Scores in

2007–08, Northwestern University and National Bureau of Economic Research, June 2009.

Evaluation of Florida’s Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program: Participation, Compliance, and Test Scores in

2008–09, Northwestern University and National Bureau of Economic Research, June 2010.



parental SatiSfaction SUrVeYS:

* Georgia Scholarship Tax Credit Program: Conducted by Arete Scholars Fund for 2011-12

* D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program: Conducted by the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation for 2011-12

* Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program: Conducted by the Black Alliance for Educational Options for 2011-12

* Florida Scholarship Tax Credit: Conducted by the American Federation for Children for 2012-13

* Racine Parental Choice Program

Student Attainment and the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, School Choice Demonstration Project, Department of

Education Reform, University of Arkansas, March 2011.

featUre: the faceS of edUcational choice

Thank you to the parents of the profiled students, and School Choice Ohio, School Choice Indiana, the D.C. Children and Youth

Investment Trust Corporation, Step Up for Students, and Hispanics for School Choice.

State profileS

arizona: Information on the Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit, Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax

Credit, and Lexie’s Law provided by the Arizona Department of Revenue (Georganna Meyer). Information on the Arizona

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program provided by the Arizona Department of Education (Aiden Fleming).

Florida: Information on the John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program provided by the Florida

Department of Education (Christopher Fenton). Information on the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship provided by Step Up for

Students (Jon East), which administers the program.

Georgia: Information on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program provided by the Georgia Department of Education.

Information on the Georgia Scholarship Tax Credit Program provided by the Georgia Department of Revenue (Monique R. Williams).

indiana: Information provided by the Indiana Department of Education (Ted Feeney).

iowa: Information provided by the Iowa Department of Revenue (Jim McNulty).

Louisiana: Information provided by the Louisiana Department of Education (Dan Fuchs and Brian Darrow).

Mississippi: Information provided by the Mississippi Department of Education.

ohio: Information provided by the Ohio Department of Education (Sue Cosmo).

oklahoma: Information on the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program provided by the

Oklahoma Department of Education (Cheryl Hassell). Information on the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships Program

provided by the Catholic Schools Opportunity Scholarship Fund, Inc. (Barney Semtner).

Pennsylvania: Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (James L.

O’Donnell).

rhode island: Information provided by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue.

utah: Information provided by Parents for Choice in Education (Judi Clark).

washington, d.C.: Information proved by the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, which administers

the program.

wisconsin: Information provided by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (Molly J. Koranda).

1660 L street, nw, suite 1000

washington, d.C. 20036

Phone: 202.280.1990

Email: [email protected]

www.allianceforSchoolchoice.org

Documents

School Choice Yearbook 2012–13