The Road to Educational Vouchers in Montana Has Begun - Stay Informed

Educational vouchers are a mechanism designed to give families the ability to choose an educational path for their child, by using public dollars and redirecting those resources towards non-public education. Sometimes vouchers are used to pay for private school tuition and other times they are used to pay for homeschool programs or opportunities.

While universal vouchers have not yet made it to Montana, we are on the pathway to their full introduction. Please check out what is happening in other states, like Arizona, that shows the pathway to universal vouchers is paved with legislation such as open enrollment, tax credits, and education savings accounts. All of these markers have passed in Montana. HB393, the education savings account for special education students, is still in litigation as Montana Quality Education Coalition (MQEC) has challenged the constitutionality of this bill.

We are predicting that a push towards universal vouchers will start with the 2025 legislative session. To that end, we believe it is important that voters have some background information and context.

Types of Educational Vouchers

• Traditional Vouchers: These provide families with public funding to pay for private school tuition. These vouchers are typically targeted at low-income families to enable their children to attend private schools that they otherwise could not afford.

• Tax Credit Scholarships: These are slightly different from traditional vouchers. Instead of directly providing funds to families, tax credit scholarships offer tax credits to individuals and corporations that donate to scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations then provide scholarships to eligible students to attend private schools.

• Vouchers for Disabled Students: Also known as special needs scholarships, these vouchers are designed specifically for students with disabilities. The funding can be used to attend schools that better accommodate their specific educational needs, whether these are private or homeschool programs.

• Universal Vouchers: Unlike targeted vouchers, universal vouchers are available to all students regardless of their family’s income or specific educational needs. The idea is to give every family the freedom to choose the best educational environment for their children.

Potential Harms: While the concept of educational vouchers aims to provide families with more choice and improve educational outcomes, it also comes with several potential drawbacks.

1. Redirection of Public Funds: One of the most significant concerns is that educational vouchers divert public funds from traditional public schools to private institutions. This can lead to reduced budgets for public schools, which may already be struggling with limited resources. As public schools serve the majority of students, a decrease in funding can negatively impact educational quality.

2. Lack of Accountability: Private or homeschool programs that receive voucher funds are often not held to the same accountability standards as public schools. This lack of oversight can result in varied educational quality and potentially misuse of public funds.

3. Equity and Access Issues: While vouchers are intended to provide more educational opportunities, they can sometimes exacerbate inequalities. Families with more resources and better knowledge of the system may be more able to take advantage of vouchers, leaving behind those who are less informed or lack the means to supplement voucher amounts for more expensive private school tuition.

Educational vouchers present a complex and multifaceted issue within the K-12 public education system. Understanding how they have been used and misused in other states is important. Engaging in informed discussions can help mitigate potential harms and ensure that all students have access to high-quality education.