school vouchers
Coverage of school vouchers in the Nexus archive.
- Which families are using ESAs? Here’s what we know about Texas’ first school vouchers
Texas students may increasingly use taxpayer funds for private school or homeschooling as more families accept invitations under the state's first school voucher program. Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are the mechanism enabling this shift.
- Who's funding TV ads by outside groups in Tennessee governor's race, and what do they want?
Outside groups in Tennessee's governor's race are spending millions to influence voters, with the Tennessee Freedom Fund supporting Marsha Blackburn and advocating for privatizing public schools through vouchers, while a dark-money group called the American Exceptionalism Institute is running ads attacking Blackburn without disclosing donors. The Tennessee Freedom Fund, linked to billionaire Jeff Yass and the Club for Growth, has spent $2.4 million, focusing on issues like immigration rather than school vouchers.
- Wisconsin Democratic candidates for governor debate, mostly hold back direct attacks
Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor debated with minimal direct attacks, focusing on issues like school vouchers and data centers. Five candidates remain in the race, with state Rep. Francesca Hong leading in polls. The winner will likely face U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.
- Parting messages from the House and Senate leaders differ in focus
House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton delivered contrasting parting messages to the Florida Legislature during its final meeting of the 2024-2026 term. The session, focused on Governor Ron DeSantis' property tax reduction plan, was marked by GOP infighting over budget negotiations, immigration, artificial intelligence, and school vouchers. The House did not pass Albritton’s 'Rural Renaissance' infrastructure and education package.
- The red-state Democrat upending the politics of school vouchers
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, is campaigning against the state’s education savings account (ESA) program, which provides public vouchers for private school expenses. His opposition to the 2023 policy frames it as a drain on public schools, positioning him as a fiscal hawk amid a divided Democratic approach to school choice.
- Budget on the table, but House and Senate can’t agree on solution to school voucher struggles
Legislative leaders failed to resolve disagreements on school voucher budgeting and accounting proposals, leaving key reforms unaddressed. The proposed education budget includes a $150 per-student funding increase but did not adopt measures to separate voucher funds from public school funding or improve accountability. A state audit highlighted issues with unaccounted funds and recommended stricter oversight.