Education savings accounts (ESAs) have the potential to transform education in America. While programs such as vouchers and tax credit scholarships give children a chance to attend a nonpublic school, they do not allow parents to customize their children's education. ESAs are a whole new ball game. Depending on the state, participating students can use ESA funding to pay for part- time classes at public and private schools, tutoring, curricula, services for special needs, and more. ESAs are helping more families take advantage of individualized educational options. While the opportunities that come with ESAs are tremendous, so can be the difficulties in navigating them. That is why there is a growing movement to include "choice navigators" as an eligible expense in ESA programs. Choice navigators can inform parents what educational opportunities are available and help tailor an education program for their children. Having navigation support can be very helpful for parents, but it is crucial that states include utmost flexibility when incorporating a navigation option.
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- United States of America