Record Number of School Choice Scholarships Awarded Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges to the education system, with students experiencing significant learning loss. In response, the popularity of school choice scholarships has surged, providing families with the opportunity to access better educational opportunities for their children.

According to ACE Scholarships, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping parents access better education options for their school-aged children, a record 14,090 scholarships were awarded to K-12 students across the United States for the 2023-2024 school year. This represents a 111% increase from the 6,731 scholarships awarded during the 2021-2022 school year.

The demand for these scholarships is not only a result of the pandemic but also the growing recognition of the importance of educational choice. ACE Scholarships CEO Norton Rainey explained, “At ACE, we’ve seen time and again inspiring stories of children finding education opportunities that work best for them and excelling as a result. It’s what bright futures are built on.”

The organization’s scholarship program allows lower-income families to access schools that best meet the needs of their children. Rainey added, “Our scholarship program allows lower-income families to access schools that best meet the specific needs of their children. Traditional public schools work well for many children, but too many kids are relegated to schools that are falling short academically, or don’t have the ability to meet a child’s special needs.”

The need for private scholarship programs and expanded educational choice programs across the U.S. is evident, as the number of scholarship applications ACE has received has nearly tripled over the last three years. In the 2021-2022 school year, the group received 12,311 applications, while during the current school year, it has received 32,113 applications.

The record-breaking demand for scholarships is not limited to a specific region. ACE Scholarships Texas President Jon Lineberger noted, “Choice empowers parents to make the best decisions for their children. Increasing choices helps parents find schools that meet the specific needs of their children. Traditional public schools work well for many children, but too many kids are relegated to schools that are falling short academically, or don’t have the ability to meet a child’s special needs.”

The impact of school choice scholarships is evident in Texas, where the group provided a record-breaking $4.1 million in assistance to nearly 1,500 students enrolled in public school alternatives during the 2023 school year. More than 200 private schools in Texas have enrolled ACE Scholarship recipients.

The success of school choice programs is not limited to Texas. In 2020, ACE was selected by Utah to administer its educational savings account (ESA) effort, a program that’s expected to provide more than $42.5 million in assistance to 5,000 children.

The importance of educational choice is further emphasized by a national study released last summer, which found that students needed around four additional months of schooling to fix post-COVID achievement gaps in reading and math. The study indicated a continued sluggish academic recovery for American students in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted traditional learning methods through extended school closures and transitions to online learning.

The surge in popularity of school choice scholarships is a testament to the resilience of families and their determination to provide their children with the best possible education. As Rainey stated, “Every child deserves a quality education that allows them to flourish. But not every child attends a school that is safe, academically rigorous, or addresses specific learning needs. Choice programs give lower-income parents the flexibility to access a full menu of educational possibilities to find the learning environment best suited for their children.”

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of educational choice and the need for families to have access to better educational opportunities for their children. The record number of school choice scholarships awarded in the 2023-2024 school year is a testament to the growing recognition of this need and the determination of families to ensure their children receive a quality education. As the education landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that families have the freedom to choose the educational path that best meets the needs of their children.