**Growing Demand for Education Choice Amid Teacher Strikes**

As Alberta parents face disruptions from a teachers' strike, many are exploring alternatives to traditional public schooling. In the United States, the demand for education choice has surged in recent years, particularly following the challenges posed by COVID-19 school closures. Many families expressed dissatisfaction with how public schools managed these closures and the politicized content of remote lessons.

Recent research indicates that education choice policies, particularly school vouchers, are driving an increase in private school enrollment. This trend may accelerate the movement of students away from public schools. The rise of education choice programs offers families a wider range of options, allowing them to select educational approaches that best suit their children's needs. This shift also reduces the impact of labor disputes and other disruptions in an increasingly decentralized education system.

School vouchers, as originally intended, allocate funds typically spent by school districts to families in the form of vouchers. These vouchers can cover partial or full tuition for private schools. According to EdChoice, an organization founded by economists Milton and Rose Friedman, this system allows families to reclaim some of the taxes they pay to support public schools, enabling them to afford preferred alternatives.

Since 2021, universal school vouchers have been implemented in 17 states, marking a significant change in U.S. education policy. Researchers Douglas Harris and Gabriel Olivier from Tulane University recently published a study examining the impact of universal vouchers in 11 states, including Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina. They found that private school enrollment in these states has increased by 3-4% compared to states without voucher programs, particularly in non-Catholic religious schools and those with low initial enrollments.

The study also noted that vouchers have likely led to a 5-10% increase in private school tuition, especially in non-religious institutions. This rise in demand is expected to drive tuition costs higher until the market adjusts with the establishment of new private schools. For instance, the number of private schools in rural Florida nearly doubled in recent years, contributing to a 3.4% decrease in private school tuition in that state.

Despite the tuition increases, private schools remain more cost-effective than public schools. The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics reported that public schools spent an average of $16,280 per pupil in the 2020-21 school year. Even with a modest tuition hike, private schools generally offer a more efficient alternative.

Moreover, school vouchers have evolved to become more flexible. Many states, including Arizona, have adopted education savings accounts (ESAs), which allow parents to use a portion of the funds that would have been allocated for public schooling. These funds can cover various educational expenses, including tuition, tutoring, online programs, and therapies for students with special needs. This flexibility further enhances the appeal of education choice for families seeking alternatives during times of disruption in the public school system.