Old Dominion News

As Florida becomes the latest state to create an education savings account (ESA) program, an analysis by the Old Dominion News shows that Virginia is not one of 11 states that has such a program.

In March 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) signed into law a bill creating an ESA program that returns taxpayer money to families to help them pay for educational expenses.

“Florida is number one when it comes to education freedom and education choice, and today’s bill signing represents the largest expansion of education choice in the history of these United States,” DeSantis said.

The Florida law, which goes into effect July 1, is a “universal” ESA program, which means it is open to all students in the state. It becomes the sixth state to create such a program, joining Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Utah and West Virginia.

In 2011, Arizona became the first state to create an ESA program. It later expanded that to a universal program through a law signed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey in July 2022.

ESAs were essentially declared constitutional by the Arizona Supreme Court in 2014, when it deemed those challenging the program were unable to show harm.

There are now 11 states that have ESA programs. 

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Which States Have ESA Programs, and Which Do Not?

State	Education Savings Account Program in Place?
Alabama	No
Alaska	No
Arizona	Yes
Arkansas	Yes
California	No
Colorado	No
Connecticut	No
Delaware	No
Florida	Yes
Georgia	No
Hawaii	No
Idaho	No
Illinois	No
Indiana	Yes
Iowa	Yes
Kansas	No
Kentucky	No
Louisiana	No
Maine	No
Maryland	No
Massachusetts	No
Michigan	No
Minnesota	No
Mississippi	Yes
Missouri	No
Montana	No
Nebraska	No
Nevada	No
New Hampshire	Yes
New Jersey	No
New Mexico	No
New York	No
North Carolina	Yes
North Dakota	No
Ohio	No
Oklahoma	No
Oregon	No
Pennsylvania	No
Rhode Island	No
South Carolina	No
South Dakota	No
Tennessee	Yes
Texas	No
Utah	Yes
Vermont	No
Virginia	No
Washington	No
West Virginia	Yes
Wisconsin	No
Wyoming	No

Source: State laws and statutes