#Schoolchoice

Comprehensive new research examining academic performance across public and private educational institutions reveals a nuanced landscape that challenges conventional assumptions about school choice effectiveness, with findings that carry significant implications for Thailand’s ongoing education reform debates. This groundbreaking analysis of standardized test results demonstrates that private school advantages vary dramatically based on the quality and resources of surrounding public education systems, suggesting that simplistic comparisons between school types may mislead policymakers and families making crucial educational decisions.

A newly released investigation analyzing standardized test scores from Ohio’s schools reveals sharp contrasts between public and private institutions—findings that may influence similar policy discussions and education choices in Thailand. Amid a massive expansion of Ohio’s school voucher program, the study presents key insights on how private schools perform compared to their public counterparts, prompting questions about the value of “school choice” and its implications for educational equity.

Recent changes by Ohio lawmakers have dramatically broadened the eligibility of families to receive publicly funded vouchers, enabling more students to enroll in private schools at the state’s expense. This legislative shift has driven voucher spending to nearly $1 billion annually according to Dayton Daily News. The effect is twofold: families now enjoy greater school choice, but clear, comparative data guiding these pivotal decisions remains limited.

A new, comprehensive study analyzes academic performance across public and private schools and finds that the benefits of private education are not universal. Instead, advantages shift based on the quality of surrounding public schools. For Thai readers, the findings offer important lessons for ongoing education reform and policy design.

Researchers collected data from diverse regions to compare performance in core subjects like English and mathematics. The work aims to give families solid, objective information amid growing voucher programs and school-choice discussions. Using careful statistical controls, the study accounts for variables such as demographics, resources, and school selection effects that often complicate comparisons.

A town hall in Idaho has intensified debate over a new school voucher program, signaling broader concerns about public funding for private education. Held at Idaho State University and attended by about 200 residents, the event mirrors global worries about public schools’ sustainability and offers lessons for Thailand as policymakers consider similar reforms.

Organized by a local education advocacy group, the gathering discussed Idaho’s HB 93, signed into law in early 2025. The measure allocates state funds—about 50 million dollars—as a parental tax credit to help families cover private school tuition. The program provides up to 5,000 dollars per student, with enhanced support for students with disabilities. Panelists described the funds as refundable tax credits that reduce state revenue before other public services are funded.

A recent town hall in Pocatello, Idaho has brought national attention to the intensifying debate over the state’s new school voucher program, with local educators and administrators warning of “severe” economic, social, and academic repercussions if public funding is diverted to private education. The event, held at Idaho State University and attended by roughly 200 community members, highlights a growing unease about the sustainability of public schools not only in Idaho but across the United States—and raises parallel questions for Thailand as policymakers here consider similar reforms.

Public school enrollment across the United States continues to decline, with new data showing student numbers have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels—a trend that is accelerating nationwide and sending ripples through education systems globally. The latest findings, reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), indicate that K-12 public school enrollment peaked at 50.8 million in autumn 2019 but is projected to drop by nearly four million to just 46.9 million by 2031, representing a significant 7.6% fall in enrollment over the next several years (Virginia Mercury via WTOP).

A sustained drop in U.S. public school enrollment is accelerating, signaling broader shifts in how families choose education. New figures from the National Center for Education Statistics show K-12 public enrollment peaking at 50.8 million in autumn 2019 and projected to fall to about 46.9 million by 2031, a 7.6% decrease. The trend invites Thailand to reflect on its own education system amid changing birth rates and urban migration.

The decline is most visible in several states, with Virginia reporting a 2.9% drop from 2019 to 2023. Nationally, elementary and middle grades experience the steepest reductions. The year 2020 saw a 3% single-year contraction—the sharpest since the post-World War II era—highlighting a profound shift in how families view schooling options.