Your guide to maximizing School Choice benefits
Cater to your child’s unique skills, talents, and needs by taking control of your household’s education tax dollars. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to School Choice strategy to help you navigate the options.
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Understanding School Choice
Children in the U.S. have the privilege of accessing free public education—but sometimes, public school isn’t the best option. School Choice allows families to devote their child’s portion of public education funds to the educational setting that suits them best, even outside the public sector.
School Vouchers
Use public funding to pay tuition at a
private institution.
Education Savings Accounts (ESA)
Pay for approved education-related expenses
with a publicly funded savings account.
Tax Credit Scholarships
Work with educational nonprofits to
source scholarships and earn tax credits
for your donations.
Tax Credits and Deductions
Utilize state income tax relief for associated educational expenses.
Note that only state governments can authorize and establish School Choice programs and ESAs. Schools must meet eligibility criteria, and setting up these programs involves considerable time, expenses, and organizational hurdles.
Parents can only use School Choice awards at certain schools that meet the requirements. Parents cannot independently initiate a School Choice program; instead, they must participate in existing programs that are authorized and administered by the state.
Explore School Choice in your state
Get detailed information about the School Choice programs in your state, and learn
more about your family’s eligibility status. Compare options to determine how much you can
save (and what you need pay out-of-pocket).
Don’t see your state listed here? We’ll continue to add information about other states as more details become available. In the meantime, learn how to set up a free tuition reduction incentive
program for your school with RaiseRight.
Program Name | Empowerment Scholarship Accounts | Low-Income Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program |
---|---|---|
Type | Education Savings Account (ESA) | Tax-Credit Scholarship |
Maximum Award | $7,000 | $2,927 |
Eligible Expenses | Tuition, educational therapies, online ed, private tutoring, future educational expenses, etc. | Tuition |
Avg. Yearly Tuition | $10,244 | $10,244 |
Program Name | Education Scholarship Account Program | Choice Scholarship Program |
---|---|---|
Type | Education Savings Account (ESA) | Voucher |
Maximum Award | $6,203 | $5,854 |
Eligible Expenses | Tuition, educational therapies, individual classes, special needs services, testing fees, transportation, etc. | Tuition |
Avg. Yearly Tuition | $7,143 | $7,143 |
Program Name | Education Savings Account Program | School Tuition Organization Tax Credit |
---|---|---|
Type | Education Savings Account (ESA) | Tax-Credit Scholarship |
Maximum Award | $7,413 | $1,465 |
Eligible Expenses | Tuition, tutoring, credential, therapies, online learning, etc. | Tuition |
Avg. Yearly Tuition | $6,332 | $6,332 |
Program Name | Income-Based Scholarship Program | Educational Choice Scholarship Program |
---|---|---|
Type | Voucher | Voucher |
Maximum Award | $5,512 | $6,036 |
Eligible Expenses | Tuition | Tuition |
Avg. Yearly Tuition | $7,892 | $7,892 |
Program Name | K–12 Private School Tuition Deduction | Parental Choice Program (Statewide) |
---|---|---|
Type | Tax Credit/Deduction | Voucher |
Maximum Award | $5,055 | $10,443 |
Eligible Expenses | Tuition | Tuition |
Avg. Yearly Tuition | $5,057 | $5,057 |
Maximize School Choice benefits
Use these strategies to make the most of School Choice funds and offset out-of-pocket costs.
Research achievement-based scholarships
Your child’s unique skills and talents may qualify for achievement-based scholarships. Whether it’s athletics, arts, academics, or technical skills, merit-based scholarships are available at local, state, and national levels.
You can explore application opportunities on websites like scholarships.com, or talk to your community foundation or local businesses to see what scholarships they offer. Due to smaller applicant pools, local scholarships are typically less competitive.
Set up a 529 savings plan
It’s never too early to start planning for your child’s college education. Enjoy tax benefits, contribute as much as you like without negatively impacting financial aid opportunities, and even use the funds for other educational expenses. A 529 savings plan is an indispensable asset for families invested in education.
Start a tuition reduction program through RaiseRight
Transform everyday expenses into powerful, convenient earning opportunities with RaiseRight. Simply shop online or buy and use gift cards to pay for everyday expenses. A percentage of every purchase goes directly to your school tuition assistance fund. Use the money to offset tuition or other educational expenses and activities.
RaiseRight is an excellent choice for schools without ESA eligibility or those looking to avoid the time and cost of setting up School Choice; you can start a RaiseRight program in 3-5 days with minimal effort. RaiseRight is suitable for any school, with no caps on earning potential and hundreds of brands to choose from.
Supplement School Choice benefits with RaiseRight
By combining publicly funded benefits through School Choice and cost-free, convenient tuition reduction opportunities through RaiseRight, you can cover up to 100% of your child’s private school education and set them up for a lifetime of success.
Most School Choice awards only cover tuition, but RaiseRight offers unlimited earning potential with no caps. We give you the means to fund expenses beyond tuition that School Choice doesn’t cover, like uniforms, textbooks, sports gear, band equipment, supplies, field trips—you name it.
You’re already shopping from at least one of our hundreds of brand partners—put those dollars to work, and earn back money that funnels directly to your child’s education.
Raise funds from anywhere, 24/7, and in whatever format is most convenient for you—whether you’re buying groceries, getting gas, traveling, or taking the kids out for ice cream, you can use RaiseRight to earn on nearly everything.
We understand that when it comes to your child’s education, the sky’s the limit. That’s why RaiseRight participants enjoy unlimited earning potential—no caps on how much you can earn toward tuition or other educational expenses.
Envision just how much you can earn
With RaiseRight, you can stack up impressive earnings from everyday purchases and expenses. You’re simply redirecting money you'd be spending anyway to support your child's education.
Compare your household budget to the chart below and discover just how much you could be earning right now.
Expense Category | Monthly Budget* | RaiseRight Earnings Avg | RaiseRight Annual Earnings |
---|---|---|---|
Groceries | $1,000 | 4% | $480 |
Gas & Auto | $350 | 3% | $126 |
Dining Out | $350 | 10% | $420 |
Entertainment | $300 | 8% | $288 |
Clothing | $250 | 8% | $240 |
Home Improvement | $250 | 4% | $120 |
Total | $1,674 |
*Based on average spend for a household family of 4
With RaiseRight brand partners offering rebates as high as 20%, it’s easy to earn $1,000+ annually. Combine your RaiseRight earnings with School Choice benefits to potentially offset your child's entire tuition.
Frequently asked questions
What is School Choice?
“School Choice” is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of publicly funded programs in the United States that offer alternative options to traditional public schooling.
Within the public school system, School Choice programs cover open enrollment, charter schools, and magnet schools. School Choice can even channel your child’s allotment of public education funds into the private sector with Education Savings Accounts, tuition vouchers, and tax credits/deductions.
How are School Choice programs funded?
School Choice programs are publicly funded. Whether a family decides to send their child to a public school in a different district, a magnet school that caters to their child’s unique talents, or a private institution, School Choice is built to uphold American children’s right to equal access to public education resources under the 14th Amendment.
Is my family eligible for School Choice?
School Choice programs and eligibility requirements vary from state to state. The EdChoice dashboard is a good place to research your state’s unique requirements.
How does RaiseRight work?
RaiseRight is a fundraising platform that brings financial relief to families and local community organizations across the U.S. Participants can purchase brand-name gift cards or shop online and earn high-percentage rebates on every purchase—up to 20%, with a 6% average. The money you earn through RaiseRight can be used for your child’s education. Thousands of private schools are already working with RaiseRight to offset tuition and fees for their students.
RaiseRight partners with hundreds of popular, well-known brands, so users can easily incorporate fundraising into their everyday lives without additional time, costs, or stress. Browse available brands to see how RaiseRight can fit seamlessly into your family’s lifestyle.
Can I use RaiseRight with a state-run School Choice program at my school?
Certainly! We encourage you to leverage School Choice benefits available in your state and integrate RaiseRight for additional support. While many School Choice programs primarily cover tuition, RaiseRight can mitigate any remaining out-of-pocket expenses.
Keep in mind that enrolling and launching a RaiseRight program for your school only takes about 2-3 days, while becoming an ESA-eligible school requires more time.
My state isn’t listed here. Where can I find more information?
If your state isn’t currently listed here, check out EdChoice’s “School Choice in America” dashboard. There, you can see each state’s available program offerings.