Full educational choice removes barriers parents face when choosing among all schools, including private ones. The most significant barrier is usually tuition. All taxpaying parents must pay for government schools through their taxes, so parents who choose for their children tuition-charging private schools must in effect pay twice for education. This financial penalty prohibits many parents from being able to afford a private school-of-choice for their children.
Full educational choice programs seek to offset this financial penalty to parents in whole or in part. (The majority of full choice plans currently operating around the country provide only a fraction of the amount of money available to government schools, but parents clamor even for the opportunity to receive assistance as low as $500.)
The majority of full educational choice programs fit into one of four categories: vouchers, private scholarships, tax credits, and universal tuition tax credits.