With growing frustration over the public education system, school choice is gaining momentum. Significant policy victories in states like Arizona and a landmark Supreme Court ruling expanding access to private schools have education reformers pushing for further change. However, amid this wave of reform, it is important to keep the focus on the option that has provided lasting choices for the most families: charter schools.
The current political moment in education is unique. Early data shows that school closures due to Covid have led to significant learning losses, particularly for students of color. At the same time, the ongoing culture wars surrounding Critical Race Theory and sex/gender education have many parents searching for alternatives. 2021 saw an unprecedented number of school board recalls, as voters demanded new leadership. Virginia’s governor election, where Glenn Youngkin’s education plan played a major role, reflected this shift. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 69% of Americans expressed dissatisfaction with the education system—the highest level recorded since Gallup began tracking in 2001.
The school choice movement has capitalized on this growing discontent. Arizona made history by becoming the first state to offer education savings accounts (ESAs) to all students. The Supreme Court’s decision in Carson v. Makin struck down Maine’s exclusion of religious schools from its voucher program. And in 2022, over 30 private school choice bills were proposed across 22 states. Congressional Republicans also pushed for the first national tax credit scholarship program.
But while voucher programs are making waves, school choice advocates should not overlook the larger, more inclusive benefits of charter schools. Education savings accounts (ESAs) are a step forward, but policies that only appeal to voters in red states will not bring about the comprehensive changes the education system needs.
Charter schools have a far broader reach than vouchers. Currently, 3.4 million students attend over 7,500 charter schools. In California alone, charter school enrollment exceeds the total number of private school choice recipients nationwide. Charter schools are also more politically appealing to a diverse range of voters, including independents and Democrats. Since charter schools are public institutions, they align with the widespread belief in public education, even among those who oppose funding religious schools with public money. As a result, many moderate parents dissatisfied with the status quo are more inclined to support charter schools than religious-based voucher programs.
The widespread political appeal of charter schools helps explain why they are more prevalent than vouchers. Charter schools are available in 44 states, while private school choice programs exist in only 31 states. The states without vouchers tend to be Democratic strongholds like New York and California, where implementing voucher programs faces significant political opposition.
Not long ago, charter schools enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Today, the ongoing unrest among parents gives school choice advocates—who often appeal to conservative voters—a chance to revive this consensus. Despite their presence in nearly every state, charter schools still have room to grow. Six states do not have any charter schools, and seven states have fewer than ten each. Additionally, 20 states impose caps on the number of charter schools allowed, limiting their expansion. Currently, one million students are on charter school waitlists, and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools estimates that another four million students would attend a charter if one were available.
The continued growth of charter schools, coupled with their broad political appeal, makes them a key component of the future of school choice in America.
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