More states give parents control over education funds, so why not Illinois?

There are 18 private school choice programs called “education savings accounts” in 16 states and growing. But Illinois leaders refuse to let parents decide how their taxes are used to educate their children.

Around 20 million students nationwide are eligible for a private-school choice program, with 16 states offering “education savings accounts” that give parents greater control over how taxes will be used to educate their children.

Three of those states started their programs in 2024, and many states started or expanded private school choice programs in 2023. Not Illinois. Lawmakers in 2023 killed the state’s only private school choice program, the Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program, under pressure from Illinois’ powerful teachers unions.

Education savings accounts are an increasingly popular private-school choice program for families in other states. Here’s what you should know and why they should be an option in Illinois.

What are “education savings accounts?”

Education savings accounts are a form of private-school choice program that provides families with publicly-funded, government-authorized savings accounts to use for specified educational expenses. Each program has its own regulations for approved expenses that vary between states, but they generally give parents choices about how taxes to educate their child will be spent – sometimes with savings that can be put towards college.

Approved educational expenses can include school tuition, tutoring, therapies for special education students, educational products and services and more.

Research by EdChoice found two-thirds of families use their education savings account funds to pay for private school tuition, while nearly one-third spent their funds on multiple learning resources, such as tutoring or online learning, among other services.

Which states have the accounts?

Nearly 330,000 students are using education savings accounts in 2024, up from over 130,000 in 2023.

There are currently 18 programs across 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, two in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, two in Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

So far in 2024, three of those states have enacted legislation to create new programs: Alabama, Georgia and Wyoming.

How is student eligibility determined for education savings account funds?

Each program differs in how it determines eligibility of students. Some programs offer 100% eligibility to students in the state, sometimes with tiered priorities. Other programs have restricted eligibility based on income or disabilities of students.

Universal eligibility

Two programs currently enable 100% of students statewide to be eligible: Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts and Utah’s Utah Fits All Scholarship Program. Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options Program also gives 100% eligibility to students statewide, but priority is given to students based on household income and to children in foster care or out-of-home care.

Three additional programs in Alabama, Arkansas and Iowa are set to increase to 100% eligibility in the coming years, and West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship Program could additionally increase to 100% eligibility for the 2026-2027 school year.

Eligibility based on income

Five programs have income restrictions regulating which students are eligible to receive an education savings account. For example, New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account Program is given to students whose annual household income is less than or equal to 350% of the federal poverty level, meaning about 48% of students are eligible statewide.

The other programs with income restrictions are Alabama’s Creating Hope & Opportunity for Our Students’ Education, South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program, Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Pilot Program and Wyoming’s Education Savings Account Program.

Eligibility based on disability

Six programs have disability restrictions designating which students are eligible to receive an account. For example, Montana’s Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account Program is given to students who have an individualized education plan and are identified as a “child with disabilities” under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The other account programs with disability restrictions are Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (ESA), Indiana’s Education Scholarship Account Program, Mississippi’s Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Program, North Carolina’s Education Student Accounts (ESA+) and Tennessee’s Individualized Education Account Program.

Eligibility based on zoned school’s academics

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the state’s Promise Scholarship program into law on April 23, establishing a program that offers education savings account funds to students in low-performing public schools.  Students who attend a Georgia public school that ranks in the bottom 25% of schools in terms of academic performance will be eligible for the program.

Illinois is an educational outlier

Education savings accounts aren’t the only type of school choice program. In all, 31 states have some form of private school choice program and school choice is steadily advancing across the country. Unfortunately, the advancements are missing in Illinois because teachers unions and state lawmakers have decided to deny families these educational opportunities or any real choice in their children’s educations.

Lawmakers ignored the needs of more than 15,000 disadvantaged students and overwhelming public support for Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program. Instead, they kowtowed to the wants of teachers unions, who put significant dollars behind their attack on the program.

Teachers unions have invested over $21.5 million in sitting state lawmakers between 2010 and the end of October 2023. Nearly $1.5 million of that was in the five months leading up to the General Assembly’s fall session when lawmakers let the program die, Illinois State Board of Elections records show.

Union bosses proved they were more concerned with protecting their monopoly on education than in supporting the needs of Illinois’ students. They aren’t against private schools, making that choice for their own children thanks to generous union salaries. They just want low-income children and families denied an option.

If union bosses and state lawmakers really prioritized students’ interests, they would follow the national wave and support programs which expand educational options for students, even if that means some students choose private schools.