Being of no power to make his wishes good:
His promises fly so beyond his state
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
For every word . . .
—William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens
School choice is a movement sweeping the nation. Whether you’ve heard the term before or it’s unfamiliar to you, new policies and bills are in place in over thirty states, with more on the way.[1] According to most websites and advocates, school choice provides families with education “freedom” by offering them money to fund their education of choice, whether that decision is charter schools, private academies, or homeschooling. According to one source, school choice is typically “seen as a way to enable lower-class and middle-class parents to withdraw their children from failing public schools.”[2]
It probably seems like an obvious choice to take free money, especially if you or someone you know comes from a low-income background and faces financial hurdles when considering education options.
However, school choice’s promise to provide families with education freedom and free money is a lie. As two previous Education Independence articles discussed, there are always strings attached to public funding because public funding indicates public ownership. School choice policies do not universally assist families; they do the opposite. It is a fundamentally flawed system that fails to fulfill its promise to serve parents and children because it excludes low-income families.
The Beginnings of Failed Promises
Often, school choice programs begin with a limited rollout of education savings accounts (ESAs), education tax credits, or vouchers. For example, in 2019, Tennessee had a limited ESA program.[3] It restricted participants to families in lower-income brackets living in traditionally less wealthy counties. In this case, Tennessee’s ESA program achieved its goal of giving low-income households more education options (public funding and public ownership issues aside). However, as of 2025, Tennessee betrayed this goal and joined a list of eighteen other states with universal school choice policies.[4] As the name suggests, universal school choice policies have no socioeconomic restrictions for participants. Anyone and everyone who desires “free money” for their children’s private education can take it.
Failed Promises in Action
It’s tempting to look at the restriction-free policy and conclude that it benefits everyone, especially those who may need more financial assistance for education. Unfortunately, the truth isn’t that simple. Universal school choice policies disproportionately benefit the already wealthy rather than extending a helping hand to the less fortunate. While data on these programs is limited due to their relatively new policies (the first universal ESA program passed in West Virginia in 2021[5]), the available information already demonstrates their downfalls.
- In Indiana, private school tuition increased 25%, directly linked with the introduction of universal school choice policies.[6]
- In Iowa, private schools increased tuition 21–25% in response to universal ESA programs, compared to the 10–16% increase when limited ESAs were in effect.[7]
- In West Virginia, no students from the state’s county with the highest poverty rate used ESA money. [8]
- In Arizona, more than 50% of the state’s ESA spending in 2024 went to students previously enrolled in private schools or home schools.[9]
This data reveals a problem: low-income families, especially those in rural counties, do not benefit from school choice policies. The reason for this is twofold. First, they cannot afford private school tuition even with the addition of school choice—specifically ESA—money. Second, rural families’ school options are limited due to location, which also increases the likelihood of any nearby private school options sporting exorbitant prices.
Universal Programs Don’t Universally Include
Instead of helping the families who need it, school choice money goes into the pockets of families who can already afford their school of choice. Since they can already afford it, this drives up tuition costs because schools are capitalizing on an opportunity to earn more money. Consequently, wealthy families are stuck relying on school choice money to continue paying the rising tuition costs. This cycle excludes low-income families from the very start; they never have a chance.
The increasing tuition costs, combined with the reality that students in rural areas or from low-income households cannot use school choice money, directly contradict the narrative that school choice benefits all families. Most states with school choice policies trend toward universal programs, shown in the shocking growth from only one state with these programs to eighteen in three short years. Universal programs don’t universally include. Instead, they harm and exclude students and families. As school choice programs continue to expand, remember Shakespeare’s words: “That what he speaks is all in debt.” The system promises to benefit all by offering the tools to explore more education options, but it ultimately breaks this promise because it bulldozes ahead and leaves low-income households in the dust.
Faith Over Policy
“Education is the responsibility of the family, with support from fellow believers; therefore, we recognize that the financial obligation remains on parents, with support from private, voluntary benefactors.” —The Education Independence Network
As Christians, we have a unique opportunity to navigate through the dust that school choice policies leave behind and walk alongside families in all seasons of life and financial situations. Instead of depending on the broken promises of public funding, we can support and uplift independent educators to truly take ownership of their children’s education. Consider what the Bible teaches about this topic:
- The author of Hebrews ends his letter in chapter 13, verse 16 with the reminder, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
- In the Old Testament, the law in Deuteronomy 15:11 says, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”
- Paul, speaking to new believers in Galatians 6:2, instructs, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The Answer: Are We Tight-fisted?
Are we open-handed or tight-fisted with our time, talents, and treasure? One of our beautiful God-given tasks as Christians is to help each other by prioritizing space in our schedules, voluntarily giving, actively walking through life together, and encouraging fellow parents to preserve education independence. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus and carry each other’s burdens.
School choice is a broken system that fails parents and children because it excludes low-income families. Eighteen states, with more on the way, have shifted from programs that promised to help low-income families to ones that neglect them, and data shows that universal school choice policies benefit the wealthy rather than the poor. These policies are “of no power to make his wishes good,” their promises failing so clearly that they “owe / For every word.”
Therefore, taking ownership of our children’s education and carrying each other’s burdens is stronger than any failed government policy. We must strive together to continue independently supporting our children’s education and helping others do the same.
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