As universal private school choice programs expand across the country, early trends are raising important questions about cost, equity, and educational impact. In FutureEd’s latest report, Senior Policy Analyst Bella DiMarco examines the rapid growth of these programs, analyzing participation, spending, student demographics, early achievement results, and the evolving provider landscape in what is the second or third year of implementation across 10 states. The report explores who is benefiting from the public funding, how programs are changing, and the broader implications for public education as more families use taxpayer dollars to access private schooling.
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Go Deeper:
- Last year, FutureEd analyzed the eight states operating universal programs in the 2023–24 school year, offering insights into what states might expect in their first year of implementation and the rapid shifts required when transitioning from targeted to universal eligibility.
- We continue to track developments in private school choice legislation: in 2025, five states have passed laws creating universal programs set to launch within the next two years.
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Network News
We’re excited to welcome two new members of FutureEd's team and network:
Tara Moon, Policy Analyst
Tara joins us from Teach for America, where she spent the last two years teaching 5th grade math and science, primarily to English Language Learners, in Alexandria City Public Schools. Her work included testing classroom uses of artificial intelligence. Tara graduated from the University of Virginia with honors, double majoring in Public Policy & Leadership and Youth & Social Innovation.
Anna J. Egalite, Research Advisor
Anna is a professor of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis at North Carolina State University and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. She serves on the editorial boards of the journals, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and Education Next and is one of the nation’s leading researchers on school choice and the education workforce.
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Curriculum & Classrooms
By the Numbers
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55%
Teachers who believe AI in the classroom has improved educational outcomes
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18%
Teachers who believe AI in the classroom has hindered educational outcomes
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The latest leadership changes in the education sector
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Pedro Martinez, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, will be the new Massachusetts commissioner of elementary and secondary education starting July 1.
Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas, formerly the deputy chief of staff to Governor Ron DeSantis, was appointed as the Florida commissioner of education. Manny Diaz, the current commissioner, will serve as interim president of University of West Florida.
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