Educational funding should follow students rather than institutions to improve academic outcomes, according to an analysis comparing states with robust school choice programs to underperforming urban school systems. New York City, despite spending approximately $36,000 per pupil in 2024, struggles with low proficiency rates in reading and math, with recent reports indicating that a majority of students in many schools failed these core subjects. State data showed only 29% of eighth graders were proficient in reading.
Chicago faces similar challenges, with less than half of students in grades three through eight meeting reading proficiency standards in 2025, and even lower rates in math. Chronic absenteeism also remains a significant issue in the city's schools.
In contrast, Louisiana has demonstrated marked academic progress and expanding parental choice. The state recently ranked first nationally in reading growth, with record-high student achievement. This improvement is attributed to policies that empower parents with educational funds through programs like the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program and the growth of charter schools. Since 2022, charter school enrollment has increased while traditional district enrollment has declined.
Florida provides long-term evidence of the impact of school choice, having implemented universal educational choice statewide over two decades ago. Studies in Florida indicate that public schools facing competition from scholarship programs have seen improved academic achievement, reduced absenteeism, and fewer disciplinary incidents. The state's charter schools have also outperformed their district peers in a majority of statewide academic comparisons, with a significant percentage earning high accountability grades from the state.
Critics argue that school choice undermines public education, but proponents suggest that increased competition and parental empowerment lead to greater accountability, innovation, and improved outcomes for all students. The core argument posits that educational dollars are more effectively utilized when they are directed toward students' needs and choices rather than solely allocated to existing institutional structures.