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A timeline is helpful when dealing with a controversial issue such as school vouchers. But before we do that, what are vouchers?

EdChoice as:

"School vouchers give parents the freedom to choose a private school for their children, using all or part of the public funding set aside for their children's education. Under such a program, funds typically spent by a school district would be allocated to a participating family in the form of a voucher to pay partial or full tuition for their child's private school, including both religious and non-religious options."

You will hear vouchers called various names, such as parental choice, education grants, scholarships, and tuition grants, to list but a few of the names you will encounter for vouchers. According to the s, Sixteen states and the District of Columbia currently offer 27 voucher programs.

This TEDxICC talk is entitled School Choice: The Next Frontier In Civil Rights.

Introduction to School Choice

is a term that encompasses various alternatives to traditional public schools, including charter schools, private schools, homeschooling, and vouchers. The concept has deep historical roots and continues to be a vital part of contemporary education policy.

Early 20th Century: Origins and Early Models

The idea of educational vouchers was first proposed by economist Milton Friedman in 1955. He suggested

Voucher programs have become a subject of significant interest in education policy, with more than thirty states now implementing some form of private school choice program. These initiatives aim to give parents more educational choices for their children, allowing them to use public funds to enroll their children in private or parochial schools.

This article overviews voucher programs in thirteen states: Arizona, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin. In addition, it highlights the year each program became law and provides a brief description of each state's voucher program.

For a broader context on how school choice policies have evolved nationwide, read School Choice: Vouchers, Scholarships And More.

Arizona (1997)

Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account Program was established in 1997. Initially limited to students with disabilities, the program has expanded significantly and is now available to all K-12 students in the state. ESA provides parents with public funds through education savings accounts for various educational expenses, including tuition, textbooks, tutoring services, and approved online programs.

Colorado (2003)

Colorado enacted a voucher law in 2003, but the program is no longer operating. As of 2026, Colorado does not maintain an active statewide private school voucher program. Families may still have access to charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and public school open enrollment options.

District of Columbia (2003)

The was established in 2003. It remains the only federally funded voucher program in the United States. The