What School Choice Is
School choice is the policy framework that allows public education funding to follow the student rather than being assigned automatically to a government-run school based on geographic attendance zones. The core conservative argument: parents, not government bureaucracies, should determine what educational environment best serves their children. Public funding should support that choice regardless of whether the chosen school is a traditional public school, charter school, private school, or homeschool program.
Sam Stone’s work at the Joe Foss Institute on civics education reform put him in direct contact with school choice advocates and opponents across Arizona. That firsthand policy development experience shapes the analysis below.
The Four Main School Choice Models
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are the broadest model: the state deposits a portion of per-pupil public education funding into a family account that can be used for any approved educational expense, tuition, tutoring, curriculum, testing, and in some states, transportation. Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program is the most expansive ESA in the country, allowing any family to receive funds regardless of income.
Voucher programs provide state-funded vouchers to families who can apply them to private school tuition. The value is typically a portion of the per-pupil public funding allocation. Voucher programs are more restricted than ESAs, typically limited to lower-income families or students with special needs.
Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated schools that operate under a charter (contract) with the state or a local authorizer. They are exempt from many traditional public school regulations in exchange for accountability results. Charter schools do not charge tuition and serve students who choose to enroll.
Open enrollment allows students to attend any public school in their district or in participating districts, not just their assigned neighborhood school. This is the most limited form of school choice but also the most widely available.
The Evidence
The research on school choice outcomes is more nuanced than either advocates or opponents typically acknowledge. Studies of ESA and voucher programs consistently show that participating students have higher graduation rates and college enrollment rates than matched comparison students in traditional public schools. Charter school research shows substantial variation, the best charter schools significantly outperform traditional public schools; the worst do not.
The competitive effect argument, that choice programs improve traditional public schools by creating competitive pressure, has mixed empirical support. Some studies show improvement in public schools near choice schools; others show no effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is school choice?
School choice refers to policies that allow public education funding to follow students to the school of their choice, rather than being automatically assigned to a government-run school based on home address.
What is the difference between a voucher and an ESA?
A voucher provides funds specifically for private school tuition. An Education Savings Account is broader, it can be used for tuition, tutoring, curriculum, testing, and other educational expenses at any approved provider.
Does Arizona have school choice?
Yes. Arizona has the most expansive Education Savings Account program in the country, the Empowerment Scholarship Account, which was expanded in 2022 to be available to any family regardless of income.
