2023 saw historic progress in education freedom, and 2024 kept the momentum going. Several states passed transformative policies, empowering families and students nationwide. These changes are popular – as demonstrated by family demand and broad support from elected officials.
Key Wins:
- New ESA Programs: Alabama & Louisiana both passed programs that are on the path to ensuring every family in their state has access to full educational freedom.
- Program Expansion: Missouri and West Virginia both saw significant program expansion, West Virginia expanding the Hope Scholarship to all school-aged children starting in 2026.
- More States Champion No More Lines: Over 700,000 students in Oklahoma can now transfer to any school within their district, and Kansas’ law, passed in 2022, goes into effect for the 2024-25 school year – benefiting nearly 500,000 students.
2024 by the numbers:
- 1,429,312 students are now eligible through universal programs
- 1,987,505 students newly eligible for an ESA
- 56,890 new students expected to receive direct funding for their education in fall 2024
- $202M secured in additional funding for students
As more and more families across the country demand education freedom, Governors from over ten states spoke of expanding education freedom and empowering families in their State of the State addresses at the beginning of the year.
Alabama and Louisiana joined the growing number of states that have embraced universal education freedom. Every family and student in those states will now be empowered with the invaluable right to choose their educational path.
Thanks to legislation passed this year, nearly two million students are now eligible for ESA programs in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Wyoming. More than $202 million in funding was secured to follow students in Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
Oklahoma improved its No More Lines policy, which will now provide more than 700,000 students with the option to transfer to any school within their residential district.
There is strong support nationwide for these policies. A September 2023 poll conducted by YouGov found that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe flexible education options would improve the overall education system. That same poll found that by more than a 10-to-1 margin (84% to 8%), Americans support empowering every child in the United States to attend the public school in their state that best meets their needs, regardless of where they live.
Momentum and public support are on our side heading into 2025. Families want choice, and legislators are responding by passing monumental legislation to empower families.
State highlights from 2024:
Alabama: The CHOOSE Act creates a universal education savings account program for Alabama families starting in 2025.
Louisiana: The LA GATOR Scholarship establishes a phased-in universal education savings account program starting in 2025.
Missouri: Lawmakers and the governor agreed on a large education package that expanded eligibility for the state’s MOScholars program, an education savings account.
Nebraska: Lawmakers approved LB 1402 which empowers qualified K-12 families with funds for private school tuition.
Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 3386, which empowers any public school student to transfer to any school in the state by ensuring intra-district as well as cross-district student transfers.
West Virginia: State Treasurer Riley Moore recently announced that Hope Scholarships, an education savings account program, has met the legal requirements to expand eligibility to every kid in the state by the school year starting in 2026.
Expansion opportunities for the future:
Georgia: The Promise Scholarship Act created education savings accounts for qualified families and included improvements to open public school enrollment. The limited program is a step in the right direction towards eventually empowering every kid with education freedom, something that is supported by two-thirds of Georgia voters.
Wyoming: In March, the Wyoming Education Savings Account Act was signed into law, making ESAs available to qualified families starting in 2025.
