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Education Options in the States: State Programs That Provide Financial Assistance for Attendance at Private Elementary or Secondary Schools
August 2007
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Overview of State Programs

The following tables provide data for state programs that were enacted as of August 2007.

Table 1. State Programs That Were Enacted as of August 2007.

State Program Type Description Year
Enacted
Arizona Tax Credits Tax credits for individuals for contributions to scholarship organizations 1997
Arizona Tax Credit Tax credits for corporations for contributions to scholarship organizations 2006
Arizona Vouchers Vouchers for students with disabilities 2006
Arizona Vouchers Vouchers for foster care children 2006
Florida Vouchers Vouchers for students in failing schools
(Note: This program was terminated at the end of the 2005-06 school year.)
1999
Florida Vouchers Vouchers for students with disabilities 1999
Florida Tax Credits Tax credits for corporations for contributions to scholarship organizations 2001
Georgia Vouchers Vouchers for students with disabilities 2007
Illinois Tax Credits Tax credits for parents for education expenses 1999
Iowa Tax Credits Tax credits for parents for education expenses 1987
Iowa Tax Credits Tax credits for individuals for contributions to School Tuition Organizations 2006
Maine Tuition Assistance Voucher like tuition assistance for students in small towns and rural areas 1873
Minnesota Tax Credits and Tax Deductions Tax credits and tax deductions for parents for education expenses 1955/1997
Ohio Vouchers Vouchers for students in Cleveland 1995
Ohio Vouchers Vouchers for autistic students 2003
Ohio Vouchers Vouchers for students in underperforming schools 2006
Pennsylvania Tax Credits Tax credits for corporations for contributions to scholarship organizations 2001
Rhode Island Tax Credits Tax credits for corporations for contributions to scholarship organizations 2006
Utah Vouchers Vouchers for students with disabilities 2005
Utah Vouchers Vouchers for all students
(Note: The implementation of this program is subject to a statewide referendum in November 2007.)
2007
Vermont Tuition Assistance Voucher like tuition assistance for students in small towns and rural areas 1869
Wisconsin Vouchers Vouchers for students from low-income families in Milwaukee 1990
District of Columbia Vouchers Vouchers for students from low-income families
(Note: This program is federally funded)
2004

Voucher or voucher-like tuition assistance programs

Table 2. Number of Participating Students and Average Amount of Assistance in Voucher or Voucher-like Tuition Assistance Programs. Data is for the 2006-07 School Year (as of August 2007) except as noted. Items bolded indicate the maximum scholarship amount.

State Participating Students
(2006-07)
Average or Maximum
Amount of Assistance
(2006-07)
Arizona: for students with disabilities 34 $7,735
Florida: for students with disabilities 18,273 $6,517
Maine: for students in small towns and rural areas 6,017 a $7,205 b
Ohio: for students in Cleveland 5,921 $2,830
Ohio: for autistic students 570 $17,500
Ohio: for students who attend low-performing schools 2,785 $5,000 c
Utah: for students with disabilities 330 $4,436
Vermont: for students in small towns and rural areas 2,913 d $8,890 e
Wisconsin: for students from low-income families in Milwaukee 17,410 $6,501
Washington, D.C.: to students from low-income families 1,802 $7,500

Sources: Officials and Web sites of state education agencies

a Data from the 2005-06 school year.

b Amount is the 2005-06-tuition rate for secondary schools in Maine.

c Maximum amount is for high school, for elementary it is $4,250.

d Data from the 2005-06 school year.

e Amount is the 2005-06 average tuition for Vermont secondary schools.


Tax credit or tax deduction programs

To individuals or corporations for contributions to scholarship organizations:

Table 3. Scholarship Organizations and Scholarships Awarded in Tax Credit or Tax Deduction Programs for Contributions to Scholarship Organizations, 2006-07

State Scholarship Organizations Scholarships Awarded
Arizona: tax credits to individuals 56 24,678
Florida: tax credits to corporations 3 16,629
Pennsylvania: tax credits to corporations 300 39,477 a

Sources: Officials and Web sites of state education and revenue agencies

To parents for education expenses:

Table 4. Claiming Taxpayers and Average Amount of Claim in Tax Credit or Tax Deduction Programs for Education Expenses, 2005 Taxable Year

State Claiming Taxpayers Average Amount of Claim
Illinois: tax credits b 207,275 $328
Iowa: tax credits 183,600 $83
Minnesota: tax credits 57,114 $269
Minnesota: tax deductions 226,141 $1,214

Sources: Officials and Web sites of state education and revenue agencies

a Data includes pre-K students as well.

b Data are for 2004 taxable year.


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