The state of Florida, which already leads the nation in the number of families accessing choice programs, is expanding educational opportunity even further. This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law what the Miami Herald describes as a "sweeping $200 million school-choice proposal that would combine and significantly expand the state’s voucher programs that help families pay for private schooling...the legislation would pave the way for about 61,000 new students to qualify for taxpayer-funded vouchers."

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has signed what the Indiana Non-Public Education Association (INPEA) described as a "huge school choice win."

From the Wall Street Journal on April 22:

"Ten years ago in these columns, we hailed Indiana for its leadership in establishing one of America’s most ambitious school voucher programs. On Thursday the Indiana Legislature built on that achievement by approving a budget that will take the program to 48,000 students a year from about 37,000.

"The choice provisions in the budget have three main components. The first would lift the income cap for eligibility to $145,000 a year from $96,000. This would make as much as 90% of the population eligible for the program. The bill would also increase the voucher amount to 90% of tuition support levels, and eliminate the existing tiered system.

"Another provision would establish Education Savings Accounts for children with special needs. The budget also increases the per student grants for charter schools to $1,000 next year and $1,250 in the second year from $750 today.

"That common union line about choice robbing public schools isn’t true. Though the final breakdown of the $1.9 billion in extra education spending won’t be known until after parents have made their choices for their children, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency does a projection of how the money will be distributed based on anticipated student enrollment. According to this projection, 92% of Indiana students will be in traditional public schools, and 93% of all education funding will go to these schools. This is before the $3 billion in federal funding that Indiana will receive from the latest Covid spending bill, almost all of which will go to the public schools.

"Since 2011, when Indiana pushed through its first voucher plan, more than a quarter-million Hoosier students have benefited. In an interview with Today’s Catholic, former Gov. Mitch Daniels explains the moral logic of choice this way: 'Providing poor and minority families the same choice of schools that their wealthier neighbors enjoy is the purest example of ‘social justice’ in our society today.'"

Arkansas has a new $2 million tax credit scholarship program on the books which will allow families at or below 200% of the poverty line to participate. Donors to the program will receive a 100% tax credit.

Regular readers of Outlook will be familiar with the landmark case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, in which the US Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Montana Supreme Court striking down a tax credit scholarship program solely because some of the children receiving scholarships attended religious schools.

In the wake of that historic decision, Montana legislators have passed, and the governor has signed, legislation raising the maximum tax credit for program donors from a paltry $150 to $200,000 (you read that right).

Jeff Laszloffy of the Montana Family Foundation told MTN News, "The importance of this effort cannot be overstated...When HB279 was signed into law, the big winners were parents and their children."

Three private schools have been selected as Green Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education. They are:

The Nueva School, Hillsborough, CA

Christ the King Catholic School, Jacksonville, FL

Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Winfield, IL

According to the Department, the purpose of the Green Ribbon Schools recognition award is to highlight schools' efforts in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, and establishing effective environmental and sustainability education.