Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Education Ranking Reveals Significant Difference Among State Laws

  • 09/30/15

Of the 16 states that have education tax credit programs, only five earn grades of A or B on the second edition of School Choice Today: Education Tax Credit Laws Across the States, Ranking and Scorecard 2015 released today by The Center for Education Reform (CER). A majority of the states earn C’s, while three earn D’s and one earns an F. The report provides analysis and state-by-state comparisons, ranking states not only based on the law itself, but real results of programs.

“Over 200,000 students are benefiting from tax credit scholarships today,” said Kara Kerwin, president of The Center for Education Reform. “As the momentum for choice programs grows, with half of these 16 states enacting tax credit programs in the last three years, it’s essential to evaluate which elements foster the creation of meaningful choices to the most number of students. Simply having a law alone does not translate into more and better opportunities for children.”

The Education Tax credit Laws Across the States Ranking and Scorecard methodology has been revamped from last year’s analysis, placing greater emphasis on participation and implementation, and taking a deeper look at rules and regulations governing programs. There are four major components that determine the strength of high-quality education tax credit programs across the states:

  • Participation and purchasing power
  • Eligibility
  • Credit design
  • Operational autonomy

“States that implement tax credit programs well will see reductions in overall expenditures in addition to growth in investments in K-12 education,” continued Kerwin. “This fairly simple concept of allowing individuals, businesses, or both to claim a tax credit for contributions made to scholarship organizations provides big benefits, with the most important being a shift in the power to choose a school from bureaucrats to parents.”

“The goal of this ranking and analysis is to provide a roadmap for lawmakers, parents, and advocates to bring about substantive and lasting change,” said Kerwin. “We look forward to furthering debate and discourse to ensure laws being enacted are indeed fostering a marketplace where parents have the power to make choices among excellent options.”

The 2nd edition Education Tax Credit Laws Across the States, Ranking and Scorecard 2015 can be found online at edreform.com.

Featured

  • University of Washington Opens New Broadcast Studio

    The University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., recently announced the opening of Sundodger Studios, a new broadcast, production, and content facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with Anthony James Partners for the design and development of the studio, which will host about 100 live broadcasts and 120 live videoboard shows per year.

  • Longwood University Hits Construction Milestone on New Music Education Facility

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of its new music education and performance facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with development and construction firm Skanska on the 63,800-square-foot facility, which began construction in August 2025 and has an estimated completion date of fall 2028.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.