Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), launched in Arizona in 2011, allow public funds to cover a wide range of educational expenses beyond private school tuition. Originally for students with disabilities, ESAs have expanded—most notably in Arizona and West Virginia in 2022—to become universal vouchers. Now adopted by several states, ESAs promote educational outsourcing and align with libertarian, market-driven ideals. However, they raise accountability concerns, create new taxpayer burdens, and may inflate private school tuition. Public schools, especially in rural areas, suffer funding losses, leading to staff cuts and school closures. ESAs can also worsen inequities and allow discrimination in private and religious schools. This policy brief provides recommendations for mitigating damage from ESAs, including implementing stronger oversight, limiting expansion, enforcing equity protections, documenting local impacts, and pursuing repeal where possible.

Suggested Citation: Abrams, S.E. (2025). The mounting trouble with Education Savings Accounts. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Retrieved [date] from http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/esa-trouble