In 2023 parental choice in education reached new heights with the latest trend in new school choice programs: Universal School Choice.
Universal School Choice means all students are eligible to apply for publicly funded tuition scholarships, savings accounts or other education aid. This is a drastic shift from small means-tested programs, historically limited to low-income families or students with disabilities.
This is the historic opportunity for Catholic schools to serve millions more children, but if not properly prepared, the Catholic school community risks being overshadowed by other private schools, secular advocates or even disgruntled politicians.
There will be a learning curve for families, school leaders, priests and diocesan leaders. The Catholic education community must come together to ensure all stakeholders are educated, all families are informed, and a network of leaders are in place to implement the programs for their ultimate success. This is the responsibility of all Catholics, informed by the Church’s teaching on parental choice in education.
Parental Choice has long been a priority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, rooted in the Church’s teaching that parents are their child’s first and primary educator:
“Parents who have the primary and inalienable right and duty to educate their children must enjoy true liberty in their choice of schools. Consequently, the public power, which has the obligation to protect and defend the rights of citizens, must see to it, in its concern for distributive justice, that public subsidies are paid out in such a way that parents are truly free to choose according to their conscience the schools they want for their children.”— Gravissimum Educationis (1965)
School choice programs have grown steadily since Wisconsin passed the first voucher program in 1994. But when it came to participation, we never served more than two percent of the student population. Today there are school choice programs in 33 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Over the last ten years, Education Savings Accounts (ESA) have increased in popularity due to their flexibility. Families are given a lengthy list of eligible educational uses for their state-funded accounts including private school tuition and fees, tutoring, test fees, therapy, online learning, afterschool or summer education programs and even transportation.
Then West Virginia stunned the school choice world in 2021, passing the first universal school choice program. The Hope Scholarship Program funds ESAs with 100 percent of the state’s per-pupil allocation.
Arizona quickly followed in 2022 making ESAs available to all families. Participation skyrocketed in Arizona from 12,000 students to 30,000 students almost overnight.
The school choice community rejoiced, but there was more to come!
The following states passed universal school choice in 2023:
Additionally, two states have almost universal school choice:
And while not universal, we applaud these additional victories: Nebraska passed its first Scholarship Tax Credit program; Wisconsin increased their first in the nation voucher program amounts; South Carolina established Education Savings Accounts; and Tennessee expanded the number of eligible counties.
Educate
All leaders associated with Catholic schools should be experts of their state’s program. They should be aware, informed and ready to share details about the specifics with any family that asks. This includes, but is not limited to, diocesan staff working with Catholic schools or faith formation, Catholic school leaders, teachers and all pastors. All families should be reminded about opportunities to participate all year long, each and every year.
Communicate
All leaders associated with Catholic schools should be evangelists of their program. Everyone has their own means of outreach to utilize, and dioceses, churches and schools should use an “all of the above” approach to spread the good news about the program.
Diocesan Catholic school leaders can hold regional information sessions, identify experts to speak to parishes and schools and send out sample, weekly bulletin announcements or social media posts.
Catholic school leaders can design a plan to communicate information to families on an ongoing basis.
Pastors can use the pulpit, church bulletins and social media for ongoing messaging to parishioners—especially extended families that may be less likely to be aware of these programs, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Families invested in the school or parish are excellent evangelizers, as they can simply tell their story. They are great messengers to prospective families and can expand outreach efforts to their own friends and neighbors. With easily accessible handouts, fact sheet brochures, emails and social media posts, their message can be shared with the community at large.
Parental choice has long been a priority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education ...
Implement
Passing the bill in the legislature is the beginning, not the end of a successful program. The program needs leaders, organization, marketing, application guidance for prospective families and ongoing political advocacy.
Identify program leaders in your state and reach out to see how your school or parish can help in their efforts. This could include your State Catholic Conference, the program administration, secular school choice advocacy groups or a coalition of private school leaders.
These are exciting times! For the first time in decades, Catholic school enrollment grew in the last two years. This growth is a testament to principals’ and teachers’ tireless efforts to press forward during a historic crisis. Families came to Catholic schools, sometimes because their public school was closed, but they stayed because of their experience. The expansion of Universal School Choice means more families will have access to the blessings of Catholic schools. It will take everyone working together to ensure we are ready to receive them!
Jennifer Daniels is the associate director of Public Policy, Secretariat of Catholic Education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Jennifer Danielsjdaniels@usccb.org