The California Association of Private School Organizations is the voice of K-12 private education in California. Its primary mission is to preserve the independence of California’s private schools and to uphold parental choice in education.
In 1925, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Pierce v. Society of Sisters held that a state may not “standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public [school] teachers only.” It is “those who nurture him and direct his destiny,” the Court found, that “have the right, coupled with the high duty” to supervise a child’s education. At the same time, the Court affirmed “the power of the State reasonably to regulate all schools.”
In holding that a state may not standardize its children, the U.S. Supreme Court provided both an explicit endorsement of educational pluralism, and implicit recognition that the “best” education for any particular child is that which, beyond being designed to “prepare him for additional obligations,” is provided in a manner that is most appropriate to a child’s individual needs.
Whereas a public school education may certainly be regarded as most appropriate to a particular child’s needs, a parent cannot meaningfully arrive at such a conclusion in the absence of access to alternatives. Therefore, the purpose of school choice legislation is to broaden access to educational options, particularly for circumstances that constrain or preclude such opportunity.
School choice legislation should always view the child as its beneficiary rather than a school or category of schools. Such legislation should not be designed to increase or decrease funding for one category of schools at the expense of another, and school choice funding should always flow through parents rather than be allocated directly to schools.
The California Association of Private School Organizations favors school choice legislation that:
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Increases access to a variety of educational options;
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Focuses upon benefits to children rather than schools;
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considers the varying needs of students and families; and,
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maintains an appropriate balance between state regulation, parental rights, and private school autonomy.
Below is an overview of the primary models of school choice currently being pursued in the United States. Note that not all of these models meet the CAPSO support threshold outlined above. These models are provided for educational purposes to members and should not be construed as an indication of CAPSO support unless otherwise noted.
Is there any existing Federal or California Legislation in pursuit of ESAs?
In CA, Senate Bill 64 (Grove, 2025) seeks to establish a School Choice Flex Account and Special Education Flex Account. These flex accounts, also referred to as a "Voucher Plus Model," seek to redirect a portion of the per-pupil amount typically allocated to public education for families to utilize towards tuition at a private school and/or other related (approved) educational expenses.
In CA, Assembly Bill 19 (DeMaio, 2025) seeks to establish an ESA for families to utilize towards tuition at a private school and/or other related (approved) educational expenses, including K-12 education and expenses and undergraduate/graduate education and expenses.
Is there any existing Federal or California Legislation in pursuit of ESAs?
At the national level, the Educational Choice for Every Child (ECCA) Act seeks to provide K-12 scholarships for as many as two million students across America to attend schools that best meet their educational needs as determined by their parents. Under this bill, $10 billion in federal tax credits would be available for individuals and businesses that contribute to non-profit scholarship-granting organizations. The funds could be used to pay for tuition, tutoring, special needs services, homeschooling curriculum materials, and education technology, among other eligible uses.
The California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO) supports ECCA.
Is there any existing Federal or California Legislation in pursuit of ESAs?
Not presently, will update as applicable.
Is there any existing Federal or California Legislation in pursuit of ESAs?
Not presently, will update as applicable.
Is there any existing Federal or California Legislation in pursuit of ESAs?
In CA, Senate Bill 64 (Grove, 2025) seeks to establish a School Choice Flex Account and Special Education Flex Account. These flex accounts, also referred to as a "Voucher Plus Model," seek to redirect a portion of the per-pupil amount typically allocated to public education for families to utilize towards tuition at a private school and/or other related (approved) educational expenses.