In Florida, a teacher whose license was stripped for sexual abuse of a 16-year-old student opened a private school in the state last year. Her name and photo were on the school's website, and details of her case were easily found through an online search. The backgrounds of school founders often simply do not matter to states choosing not to closely regulate who operates private schools receiving public money, according to a ProPublica investigation.
As voucher-style programs expand across the country, about 30 states now allow families to spend public dollars on private school tuition. EdChoice, a group that advocates for these plans, estimates more than 1.5 million students are taking advantage of them. A federal tax-credit program signed into law by President Donald Trump provides the first-ever federal plan to fund K-12 private schools.
ProPublica analyzed data from 13 states and found at least 1,500 more private schools listed today than five years ago, bringing the total to more than 9,600. Florida has seen an average of 100 new private schools launch each of the last five school years. West Virginia, a state with fewer school-age students than are enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, has gained about 40 new private schools.
In Iowa, public funds subsidized 99% of all private school students in the past school year, the third year the state's program was available. In Arkansas, where students can receive about $7,000 annually toward tuition, approximately 120 new private schools opened in three years. Arizona cannot say how many private schools exist or where they operate despite spending hundreds of millions on voucher programs.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of expanded voucher funding argue that the rapid growth has come at the expense of accountability and student safety. "I've got the West Virginia codebook, which governs public education, which is over 1,300 pages long," said Paul Hardesty, president of the West Virginia Board of Education, contrasting it with minimal requirements for private schools receiving public money.
Progressive advocacy groups warn that when every student at a private school pays tuition with public funds, that school still operates without the same financial transparency, curriculum oversight or student achievement tracking required of public schools. Parents and education advocates concerned about public funding say private institutions are not subject to the same open-records laws or public meetings requirements.
Disability rights advocates note that private schools, unlike public schools, do not have to admit students with disabilities, meaning some families cannot access the educational freedom politicians have touted. The lack of admission requirements means students who need specialized services may be excluded from voucher-funded schools entirely.
What the Right Is Saying
School choice proponents argue that vouchers give low-income and middle-class families access to private and religious schools they previously could not afford. Supporters say competition drives improvement across the education system, benefiting all students even those who remain in public schools.
Conservative groups have pursued expanded school choice for decades as a way to reduce the dominance of traditional public school districts. They argue parents should have control over where their children are educated and that money should follow the student regardless of whether the school is public or private.
In Arizona, state education officials praised Mike Tyson, the heavyweight boxer who served time in prison for rape, for his involvement in launching a private school bearing his name. The state's top education official called Tyson "a champion of education." In Florida, advocates point to thousands of families now able to access schools that match their values and educational goals.
What the Numbers Show
ProPublica's analysis of state data shows at least 9,600 private schools operating in the 13 states studied. The number represents an increase of approximately 1,500 schools from five years prior. In Iowa, public funds covered tuition for 99% of all private school students during the most recent school year.
Arkansas has seen roughly 120 new private schools open since implementing its Education Freedom Account program three years ago, which provides about $7,000 annually per student toward tuition. West Virginia gained approximately 40 private schools despite having fewer total school-age children than Chicago Public Schools alone.
EdChoice estimates more than 1.5 million students currently participate in voucher-style programs across the country. The federal tax-credit scholarship program signed by President Trump represents the first time K-12 private education has received direct federal funding.
The Bottom Line
The expansion of private school choice programs represents a significant shift in American education policy, with bipartisan support for some form of school flexibility now spanning about 30 states. Questions remain about oversight mechanisms as enrollment grows.
What to watch: Several state legislatures are considering expanding voucher programs in upcoming sessions. Parents using vouchers report mixed experiences, with some praising educational options and others finding private schools unwilling to accommodate their children's needs. The tension between parental choice and institutional accountability is likely to define education policy debates going forward.