private school vouchers--any chatter yet?

[Anonymous]

Curious on how the private school voucher program passed in the Big Beautiful (yuck) Bill will go. Not a fan of BBB, but if the $ is going to be there to help with tuition, we might apply. I know states need to opt-in, I'm guessing that Maryland will not but there's a decent chance Virginia would if the deadline is before the new gov. Research suggests that when these types of programs pass in states that private school tuition goes up...really hope we don't see that happen. My concern is that our private will bump tuition more than the usual hike but then the voucher program will go away when Trump leaves office (let's hope), leaving us with much higher tuition. It also seems like there is a lot of ?! on the amount of the actual voucher, since it depends on how many people "donate" to the fund for tax breaks, and what the "scholarship" recipient orgs actually offer...anyway, sounds like it's going to be a long process with Dept of Ed needing to issue guidance/regulations, but don't know who's going to do that when their staff is so gutted.

(I hate to admit it, but a 2-3K discount/kid would give us some breathing room)

[Anonymous]

You are correct that tuition always goes up when voucher programs are put into place, so a lot of the savings end up being smoke and mirrors.

I've also read that the federal government will be able to mandate some things at the private schools to make them eligible for vouchers. I haven't figured out exactly what that means, but I don't like the idea of opening the door for federal government intervention into private schools. Like would this be largely just be a process thing? Or could they enforce their anti-DEI policies on Independent schools?

[Anonymous]

I live in a state that already has vouchers. It was initially just for kids with IEPs or other special needs. A few years ago they changed the law so now anyone can use them. Our tuition has not changed more than the small yearly increase. We get $1,800/quarter for tuition (one kid).

[Anonymous]

Could you share what state that is? I get my info from colleagues who work in the ed policy space and would appreciate being able to fact check their info.

[Anonymous]

If a school accepts federal voucher money, then they'd have to turn their schools into little Trumptopias. I don't see that happening at most of the big-name local privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are correct that tuition always goes up when voucher programs are put into place, so a lot of the savings end up being smoke and mirrors.

I've also read that the federal government will be able to mandate some things at the private schools to make them eligible for vouchers. I haven't figured out exactly what that means, but I don't like the idea of opening the door for federal government intervention into private schools. Like would this be largely just be a process thing? Or could they enforce their anti-DEI policies on Independent schools?

This problem is what colleges are discovering and why places like Hillsdale and Grove City have never taken federal funds. Once you take someone's money, you give them leverage.

For some schools the problem would be the policies of this administration, for others the policies of an administration yet to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a state that already has vouchers. It was initially just for kids with IEPs or other special needs. A few years ago they changed the law so now anyone can use them. Our tuition has not changed more than the small yearly increase. We get $1,800/quarter for tuition (one kid).

I have a friend who spent years with kids at a private in NC and said vouchers actually increased the economic diversity because of the income limit cut-offs to use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you share what state that is? I get my info from colleagues who work in the ed policy space and would appreciate being able to fact check their info.

Arizona. It is funded through state tax dollars. There are no income limits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious on how the private school voucher program passed in the Big Beautiful (yuck) Bill will go. Not a fan of BBB, but if the $ is going to be there to help with tuition, we might apply. I know states need to opt-in, I'm guessing that Maryland will not but there's a decent chance Virginia would if the deadline is before the new gov. Research suggests that when these types of programs pass in states that private school tuition goes up...really hope we don't see that happen. My concern is that our private will bump tuition more than the usual hike but then the voucher program will go away when Trump leaves office (let's hope), leaving us with much higher tuition. It also seems like there is a lot of ?! on the amount of the actual voucher, since it depends on how many people "donate" to the fund for tax breaks, and what the "scholarship" recipient orgs actually offer...anyway, sounds like it's going to be a long process with Dept of Ed needing to issue guidance/regulations, but don't know who's going to do that when their staff is so gutted.

(I hate to admit it, but a 2-3K discount/kid would give us some breathing room)

No
Absolutely no
Religious privates will have no oversight under project 2025

Keep your moms4 liberty crap away from kids

Public school $ should not go to pay for you to indoctrinate your kidv

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious on how the private school voucher program passed in the Big Beautiful (yuck) Bill will go. Not a fan of BBB, but if the $ is going to be there to help with tuition, we might apply. I know states need to opt-in, I'm guessing that Maryland will not but there's a decent chance Virginia would if the deadline is before the new gov. Research suggests that when these types of programs pass in states that private school tuition goes up...really hope we don't see that happen. My concern is that our private will bump tuition more than the usual hike but then the voucher program will go away when Trump leaves office (let's hope), leaving us with much higher tuition. It also seems like there is a lot of ?! on the amount of the actual voucher, since it depends on how many people "donate" to the fund for tax breaks, and what the "scholarship" recipient orgs actually offer...anyway, sounds like it's going to be a long process with Dept of Ed needing to issue guidance/regulations, but don't know who's going to do that when their staff is so gutted.

(I hate to admit it, but a 2-3K discount/kid would give us some breathing room)

No
Absolutely no
Religious privates will have no oversight under project 2025

Keep your moms4 liberty crap away from kids

Public school $ should not go to pay for you to indoctrinate your kidv

How do you know that her private school is a religious private?

[Anonymous]

If you get a second job you can easily make up that money.

[Anonymous]

Around here, if there is a voucher, the privates will just increase their tuition by that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a school accepts federal voucher money, then they'd have to turn their schools into little Trumptopias. I don't see that happening at most of the big-name local privates.

+1. None of the top independent schools are going to accept federal or state funding and lose their independence!

[Anonymous]

People whose children are already in private school should be exempted from getting vouchers. You already made the choice, you can clearly avoid it, or are getting financial aid. Let other people have an opportunity, selfish OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Around here, if there is a voucher, the privates will just increase their tuition by that much.

This.