According to a new report, educational savings accounts are becoming the new mechanism for linking K-12 programs with higher education.
Jeff Reed of The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice says ESAs -- managed by parents with state supervision to ensure accountability -- greatly expand educational options for parents, as they allow public funds to be used for vouchers, online learning, tutors, home schooling and even therapists.
"Or even if they don't do that, they can save some of those funds for higher education, which is also an incredibly important piece of linking K-12 access with higher education access, because we all know that in today's day and age, advanced learning beyond just K-12 is also important," Reed offers.
Reed believes allowing parents to use ESA funds for higher education gives them powerful incentives to "judge" education providers at the K-12 level "on quality and on cost."
"So this is a great measure to keep costs down in K-12 education, while still giving kids an effective learning experience," he concludes.
"The Way of the Future" is available on The Friedman Foundation's website.