How Does Vermont Compare to Other States
Involved in Education Reform?

What are other states doing in education reform? The following list is an overview of two major reform efforts: school choice programs and charter schools.

Charter schools are publicly-funded schools set up by community members. They can accept students from outside their geographic district. In addition to the charter school states listed below, Oklahoma and Oregon just recently passed charter school legislation.

Vermont’s tuitioning town system, voluntary public high school choice programs in only a few communities, and privately-funded scholarship program are the only school choice programs available to students in this state.

Public School Choice Permitted Throughout the State: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah, and Wisconsin

Public School Choice Ongoing Within Some or All Districts: Connecticut, California*, Georgia, Idaho*, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts*, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey*, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota*, Ohio*, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee*, Texas, Washington*. (* In CA, ID, MA, NJ, ND, OH, TN and WA, the state offers open enrollment but districts are not required to participate.)

Charter School States: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Private Sector Scholarship Programs: Albany NY; Atlanta GA; Austin TX; Baltimore MD; Battle Creek MI; Birmingham AL; Bridgeport CT; Buffalo NY; Chattanooga TN; Chicago IL; Dallas TX; Dayton OH; Denver CO; Elizabeth NJ; Fort Worth TX; Grand Rapids MI; Hartford CT; Houston TX; Indianapolis IN; Jackson MS; Jersey City NJ; Knoxville TN; Little Rock AR; Los Angeles CA; Louisville KY; Memphis TN; Midland TX; Milwaukee WI; Minneapolis MN; New York NY (5) Newark NJ; Newark NJ; Newark NJ; Oakland CA; Oklahoma City OK; Orlando FL; Overtown FL; Philadelphia PA; Phoenix AZ; Pittsburgh PA; San Antonio TX; San Francisco CA; San Francisco CA; Schenectady NY; Seattle WA; Silver Spring MD; St. Louis MO; Troy NY; Washington DC (3), Vermont (one statewide program).

Publicly-Sponsored Full School Choice: Cleveland OH; Milwaukee WI; Florida

Publicly-Sponsored Secular School Choice: Maine; Vermont (both states have tuitioning towns)